OBITUARY
William Stephen Kennedy, M.D.

William Stephen Kennedy, M.D. passed away on January 12, 2008.
He lived his life with compassion, commitment, love, and much gusto.
He enjoyed traveling with his family and was always willing to travel to new places and try new experiences. A very intelligent, inquisitive man who believed in living each day to the fullest, he was an engaging liberal who had an opinion on most issues and loved talking about those opinions with others. He was always a non-judgemental supporter of his friends and family and was always willing to help anyone in need. An avid and eclectic music lover, he was especially fond of the music of the Grateful Dead and proudly labeled himself a “Deadhead”. He was a fun and loving husband, devoted Father to his three children, and adoring, doting Papa to his five granddaughters. We will miss his wit and humor. We will always remember his care and love and we shall always be inspired by his thirst for justice.

Bill was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania to Jean Meredith Ward Kennedy and William Stephen Kennedy on August 3, 1942. He attended and graduated from Sharon High School in Sharon Pennsylvania in 1960. He graduated from St. Vincent College in Latrobe , Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and received his Medical Doctorate from The Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University in Chicago in 1968. His Internship and Medical residency were completed at Fresno County Hospital , now University Medical Center. He was Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Bill practiced Internal Medicine in Fresno for 34 years. He also worked as a consulting physician for the California State Department of Rehabilitaion for 11 years. After his health slowed him down a bit, he continued to practice medicine by caring for many patients at Wish I Ah Nursing Home.

Bill proudly served in the United States Air Force as a Captain and Flight Surgeon with the 49th Tactical Wing, 9th “Blacksheep’ squadron serving from 1969 – 1973 at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Flying as a Navigator in the backseat of the F4 fighter jet was an honor and thrill.

Bill had many interests and achievements which included completing two marathons, coaching youth soccer, golfing, skiing, cruising, cooking a gourmet meal, routing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and enjoying a good cigar.
He believed in giving back to his community. He was a volunteer physician for the athletic department at Fresno State for 23 years. He loved working with the athletes, traveling with the teams and cheering on the Bulldogs. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club and participated for several years in the Projectyo Nino which provides medical care in a small clinic on the outskirts of Mexico City. As a member of LIGA International, he flew many times to the Ocoroni Medical clinic to provide medical care to those in need. Bill was also a member known as “Roisteros” in the local James Savage 1852 Chapter of E Clampus Vitus.


Bill is survived by his wife of 41 years, Carole Lynn Hall Kennedy. He is also survived by his children; William Stephen Kennedy, III and his wife Jennifer and their daughters Emily Elizabeth and Sarah Cassidy, his son Peter Christian Kennedy and his wife Nichole, and his daughter Elizabeth Jean Hazelton and her husband Willard and their daughters, Marlee Jean, Grace Anne, and Mackenzie Lynn. Also surviving are his brother Stephen Richard Kennedy and sister-in-law Jeanne of Greenville, Pennsylvania and nephew Stephen of Boardman, Ohio, and brother David Lee Kennedy and sister-in-law Sylvia of Fresno.

Bill was especially excited about the “Dr Bill Kennedy and Friends” scholarship for the education of student athlete trainers at Fresno State.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:
The Bulldog Foundation, Dr. Bill Kennedy and Friends scholarship, Department of Athletics, Fresno State, 5305 N. Campus Dr., Fresno, CA. 93740 or to St. Agnes Medical Center Foundation, 1303 E. Herndon, Fresno, CA. 93720.

Services will be held at Whitehurst-Sullivan Funeral Home, on Wednesday, January 16 at 2:00 P.M.

The Kennedy family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during the past months. Friends are welcome at the Kennedy home for refreshments and reminiscing following the services.