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.

Carole writes:

Dear friends,

I am so sorry to post this news.
Bill passed away yesterday (January 12) morning.

Funeral Services will be held on

Wednesday, January 16th at 2 PM PST
Whitehurst Sullivan Funeral Home
1525 E. Saginaw Way
Fresno, Ca.

All are invited to the Kennedy home for refreshments afterward.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. It meant so much to us.

Peace,
Carole

Shopping Time

My brother Dave is shopping and has some prospects for a new house. Hopefully, he has come across the house he has been looking for, not far from where we live out here by Copper River Country Club.

Lately, we have been having spectacular sunsets so I have been able to enjoy a cigar or two while watching the beautiful cloud formations and colors dance across the southern horizon.

In case any of you have some cigars you would like to donate to the cause, feel free to send them on as they will be smoked with pleasure......better yet, come and smoke a cigar with me.

By the way, I am always open to visitors especially in the afternoons to come chat with me on the patio.

I am feeling better so I can stay up longer while I smoke the cigars and watch the beautiful cloud formations.

In other business.....how do you like them Steelers???!!! They are 8 and 3 and if they can stay healthy we are looking at the playoffs for the black and gold.

Fresno State is once again in a bowl game. When injuries to the team started to cause many key players to be out of action, it looked dismal but Coach Hill was able to motivate the younger guys and has played some excellent football to get to into the bowl.

It seems I will be a Grandpa very soon as Beth's doctor has given her the word that we can expect a new arrival very soon. Now...for a name. Although I have my guesses , I'm not going to spill any beans about the baby's name.

My brother Steve called to say that he thoroughly enjoyed his trip to Fresno and to the west coast and is thinking of coming back after the new year.

The Scholarship Fund has exceeded my expectations and things will be wrapping up around this project soon. Again, thank you to all who reached into their purses to make this dream of mine a reality.

The internet has made Christmas shopping a new adventure. I spent some time looking through catalogs today and despite my mobility problems I am able to shop and get Christmas gifts and Christmas cards going.

We were trying to post some pictures to go with this blog but we haven't quite figured out how to make the merge but we are trying....Stay tuned.

I am serious about the cigars and the visitation. I thoroughly enjoy both. People have asked me "what can we do to help you out?"...now you know the answer...cigars and chatter.

Peace and Health,
Bill

New Arrivals

Kathy Pierce ...we received the talking books and will start listening tonight.

Peter....the greenhouse is ready to unpack and set up. The boxes are sitting in the back of the pick up awaiting your set up.

Peace and Health,
Bill

Cellular Phone

As hoped, the cell phone has turned up, and of all places in the couch..so feel free to call it once again. and...we now know that the numbers in the cell phone can be saved online....at least with Verizon. A very worthwhile service.

Had a great visit with Paul Schecter today at the house. Paul is the person who encouraged me to become a team Doc at Fresno State and changed things for me as I took him up on his offer over 23 years ago.

Otherwise, nothing new to report.

Peace and Health,
Bill

The week-end is over

We had a full house and the house is quiet once again. Dick and Sue's visit was a real treat since we rarely get a chance to visit with them. Dave Raun and Laura also were a treat not only for the fine cigars but for the opportunity to visit altogether. Perhaps the real treat was having Emily and Sarah treat us with their antics and especially Emily and her dancing and mirth that only a two year old can share. Jen and Steve have their hands full and their visit is always most welcome.

In the event a cell phone appears on the horizon please give us a call so we can call off the search for Carole's cell phone which is missing in action.

Peace and Health,
Bill

P.S. Keep looking for the phone.

Need Help

I am looking for suggestions on purchasing "Books on CD" from Barnes and Noble. If you see any suggestions from the B & N website let me know.

It was a glorious day here today with the autumn colors, the light wind and especially the visit from Cynthia.

Peace and Health,
Bill