Hugh Kennedy

Hugh Kennedy passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the age of 74. He was born in Los Angeles, CA, on June 3, 1936, to parents Hazel and Hugh Sr. who both worked for the Harvey House restaurants associated with the Railroad. When he was a few years old, his family moved to Bakersfield, California, where his father was a steam train engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Hugh grew up on a ranch in Bakersfield (with younger siblings Patty, Bob and Dave), where he was known for his marble-shooting ability, skills with a yo-yo, playing second base, and riding his horse Sheik. Hugh was a great athlete, and a superb horseman, competing in Gymkhana, an equestrian event consisting of speed pattern racing and timed games for riders on horses. (According to his brother Dave, "he won almost everything he entered!") When Hugh was sixteen he got a job training cutting horses and rode them in rodeos. Hugh also worked at a gas station during high school to earn money for college. After graduating high school, Hugh served 4 years in the Air Force at Riverside AFB, first as a crew chief, and then Staff Sergeant on B47 Bombers. He earned the G.I. Bill which helped pay for his education at Stanford University, where he earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture. (Hugh also discovered Sheik at Stanford!) During his college summers Hugh worked on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Hugh had two daughters, Karin and Katie, with first wife Carole Byberg Kennedy (later divorced). They lived in Palo Alto where Hugh was an Architect at Spencer Associates, Architects & Planners. Among his favorite projects were the Solar Observatory at Stanford, the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the Hoover Dam Visitor Center, and the Mt. Saint Helens Visitor Center. He also designed a Palo Alto Library remodel; the playground for his children's school, Ohlone Elementary; a solar-powered addition to his family's home (for which he won the Grand Award for Solar Innovation from the City of Palo Alto); and a remodel for Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto. Later as an independent Architect he enjoyed designing upscale homes and light commercial buildings in the Bay Area. Hugh also occupied his time by documenting the Kennedy Family History, beginning in Ireland in the year 1830. After retiring in 2008 he moved to the Rossmoor retirement community in Walnut Creek near his daughter Karin and her family where he enjoyed spending leisure time with his children and grandchildren, and his brothers Dave and Bob of Benicia. Hugh and his brother Dave shared a love of playing Flamenco Guitar. Hugh is survived by his brother David Kennedy, his sister Patricia Byford, his daughters Karin Husch and Katie Kennedy, and his wonderful boisterous grandchildren Julia, Peter, and McKayli. A loving father and grandfather, "Papa Hugh" will be missed! A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at 1:00 pm, at the Lafayette United Methodist Church, 955 Moraga Road, Lafayette, CA. There will be a Graveside Service for the Family at the Lafayette Cemetery, beforehand (12:00 noon). In lieu of flowers, contributions in Hugh's memory may be sent to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605 (www.lls.org/donate). We are very grateful to the wonderful nurses, staff and volunteers at Odyssey Hospice who cared for Papa Hugh during the last months of his life.