January 16, 1974 – January 27, 2008
Rev. Daniel J. Kennedy, 34, of Needham and Winthrop, died of a heart attack Sunday, January 27, 2008 at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.
Father Kennedy was a graduate of Catholic Memorial School, Providence College and Saint John’s Seminary and a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Chaplin Corps. He was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston on May 26, 2007 and was the Parochial Vicar at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Winthrop. Father Kennedy was an accomplished runner who completed nine marathons, including the Boston, Philadelphia and Marine Corps marathons, and was also an avid golfer. He shared a love for God, a love for his family and friends, and a passion for the Boston Red Sox and the Catholic Memorial Knights.
He was the beloved son of Daniel J. Kennedy and Alice M. (Haggerty) Kennedy of Needham; loving brother of Kathleen M. Kennedy, Patricia A. Kennedy, Anne Marie Kennedy all of Needham, and John F. Kennedy and his wife Elizabeth of Simsbury, Connecticut, loving uncle of Ashley T. Kennedy of Needham, and loving nephew of Judith E. Kennedy of Chicopee, Eleanor Masi and Elizabeth Harlow both of Maine; he is also survived by several cousins. He was the grandson of the late Patrick J. and Eileen M. Kennedy of Springfield and Charles J. and Alice H. Haggerty of West Springfield.
Funeral Information
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by his Eminence, Sean Cardinal O’Malley, on Friday, February 1st in Saint Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Avenue, Needham at 11:00 am. Interment will take place on Saturday, February 2nd, in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield at 11:00 am.
Father Kennedy will lie in state in Saint Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Avenue, Needham on Thursday, January 31st from 3:00-8:00 pm.
Donations Information
In lieu of flowers, the Kennedy family requests that donations be made in memory of Father Daniel J. Kennedy to Catholic Memorial School, 235 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 or to Saint Joseph School Endowment Fund, 90 Pickering Street, Needham, MA 02492.
He will be so very missed by all of us who loved him in Scituate!
Wow!
So sad – too young to die like that. He must have had a family history or a congenital defect that never got picked up…..
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis
I knew Dan from Providence, he was a great guy and will be missed.
Truly one of the greatest guys you could ever meet. I saw him sparingly but I will miss him deeply.
I got to know Dan through his brother Jack. He was a man for others.
This is a tragedy beyond words. The world has lost a great leader and a great friend.
He was so happy to be a priest, and so passionate about serving ALL of God’s people. Please join us in praying for vocations. thank you.