John "Jack" H. Kennedy

John H. (Jack) Kennedy Sr., 89, of Swampscott, was the beloved husband of Lucille (Quinlan) Kennedy with whom he shared 63 years of marriage, passed away after a brief stay at the Kaplan House in Danvers on Friday, July 28, 2023. Jack was born on December 3, 1933 to the late Thomas E. “Pip” Kennedy and Florence (Pension) Kennedy in Lynn. Jack was an earnest, loyal, kind, and generous person and an avid Red Sox fan.

He was devoted to his wife Lucille and to his family, loving nothing more than spending time with his children and grandchildren, attending their sporting events and music and dance performances. He was the epitome of a family man, eagerly anticipated holidays spent together, particularly the 4th of July on Sweetser Ter., and time in the backyard swimming pool.

Jack grew up the middle child of a boisterous family. He attended St. Joseph’s Institute and graduated from St. Mary’s High School (’52) and Boston College (’56). He served in the US Army (Hawaii) for several years. He contemplated entering the priesthood until he met Lucille Quinlan – a loss for the Church, but a blessing for the family that followed. After a whirlwind courtship, the couple married on August 6, 1960 and settled in Lynn.

Jack and Dan Travers bought Sullivan’s Curtain Shop and spent decades building and expanding the business. Later Jack, Lucille, and two of their sons operated Hometrends of Wellesley for many more years.

Jack and Lucille spent forty years on Sweetser Terrace in Lynn forging lifelong friendships with many and, in particular, their neighbors Bob and Phyllis Kennedy, before moving to Swampscott. They divided the next 20+ years between Swampscott and Naples, FL. Jack was active in both communities, serving on the condo boards, helping coordinate the V Club for St. Pius with Bob Kennedy, and engaging with the Dawn Patrol of early morning walkers in Naples.

Jack served on the Lynn Election Commission and on many nonprofit boards. While the recipient of honors and awards for his service, including induction into the St. Mary’s Hall of Fame, he shunned the spotlight and took greatest joy in celebrating the accomplishments of others, whether it was a great golf shot or the accomplishment of a grandchild.

His leisure time was spent playing golf (notwithstanding his frequent frustration), loving his many years with Shoe City at Gannon in Lynn, and with the PARS group at various courses around Naples, and bocce, dominos, and cards. He loved to dance, Boston Sports and professional Golf.

Regardless of the subject, Jack was never at a loss for words, easily engaging friends and strangers in conversation and making them feel heard and cared about. His frequent walks around Flax Pond and Lynn Shore Drive and at his Florida condo took longer than expected, lengthened by the time he took to greet and chat with people he ran into along the way.

He was a patient man, undoubtedly learned during his time toiling in the Boston Sports Fan Desert for so long.

He was a caring man. He went to wakes and made hospital visits for even casual acquaintances and carried an ever-lengthening prayer list in his wallet, frayed from so many years of being removed and referred to every morning at Mass.

Jack was the devoted father of his children, Ellen Kennedy and her husband, Mark Gold, Jane and her husband Frank Walsh , John and his wife Kristine, Neil and his wife Sharon and Kevin and his wife Vanessa, beloved Papa to his ten grandchildren, John and his wife Alyssa Downey, AJ D’Agnese, Lauren Walsh and her husband Brendon Jordan, Lindsey Pegura and her wife Kellie, Amanda Kennedy and her fiancé James Karahan, Melissa Kennedy and her fiancé Mark Littlefield, Jacob Kennedy and his wife Becca, Colin Kennedy, Mia Kennedy, and Kasey Kennedy and five great grandchildren, Jack Downey, Allie Karahan, Eloise and Oliver Jordan and Alessandro Pegura. He also leaves behind two sisters, Betty Misura and Rita (Patrick) Burke, and three brothers, Fred (Mary), Bill (Kim) and Frank (Ellen), and his sister-in-law’s Patricia Kennedy and Betty Travers and brother-in-law, Gino Cresta. He was predeceased by his sister, Flo Cresta, and his brothers, Thomas, Walter, and Richard Kennedy, Daniel and the Reverend David Travers, and Michael Carr. Jack leaves many nieces and nephews, and several godchildren who held a special place in his heart.

Visiting Hours will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm in the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn. A Funeral Mass will be held the following morning at St. Pius V. Church, 215 Maple Street, Lynn at 10:00 am. Burial to immediately follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Regional High School in Lynn, Gannon Youth Golf in Lynn, Dana Farber, or any charity of the donor’s choice.