Stephen J. Kennedy, 63, died peacefully on June 24, 2023, at his home in Lynnwood, WA, after a courageous year long struggle with pancreatic cancer. Steve is survived by his wife Aimee Do; daughters Claire and Maureen Kennedy, stepdaughter Aline (Dan Lieberman) Tran; siblings, Brian Kennedy, Eileen (Robert Heim) Kennedy, Jane (Michael) Cline, and Mary (Andrew Lyle) Kennedy; Aimee's siblings and their spouses; former wife Kelly Kennedy; five first cousins; numerous nephews, nieces, and grand nephews and nieces; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James F. Kennedy, Jr and Anne Griffin Kennedy, and his younger sister, Claire Kennedy Burton.
Steve grew up in Toledo, OH, as the fifth of six children born to Jim and Anne. Steve was his mother's "Most Beautiful Baby" and his father's "Most Stubborn Child". He was the only child to inherit his father's legendary storytelling flair.
After attending Gesu Elementary School and St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo, Steve earned a B.A. at the University of Virginia and a J.D. at Harvard Law School. Steve settled in Seattle in 1986 to begin his career as a civil litigator, associating with Garvey Schubert Barer. He later became a partner at Ater Wynne, before establishing his own law firm and expanding his practice to include dispute resolution and even more pro bono work.
Steve was sought out for his exceptional ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of both side's cases. He handled a broad range of matters, from a patent dispute for a Norwegian shipbuilding company to working with the FBI to repatriate pre-Colombian artifacts to Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology.
Steve was an innovative and generous problem solver. When he noticed that his daughters' school drop-off and pick-up process was a chaotic free-for-all that endangered the children, he started directing the flow of cars. He continued in this role for years, earning the title of "Parking Lot Guy". Many of his daughters' friends did not know that he had a side job as a lawyer.
Steve's talent as a lawyer was enlivened by his sense of humor, kindness, and compassion. These are also the traits that those who knew him best most cherished. Steve's stories and joie de vivre lit up the room, the party, the family reunion, and weekly Zoom calls with extended family. His goal during his illness was to maintain his sense of humor. Family and friends will remember how well he succeeded in this ultimate victory over a cruel disease.
Steve had an insatiable curiosity about people, places, and ideas, and a lifelong love of travel and reading. He spent some of his happiest times with family in places as far flung as Ireland and Vietnam. Visits to Ireland focused on having craic with his second cousins in Kerry and Dublin. He and Aimee spent a memorable sabbatical year teaching elementary school English in Ponteareas, Spain, and exploring Spain and Portugal. Wherever he went, Steve's kindness and open-minded nature left a long-lasting impression on others.
Steve found fulfillment in giving back to others by volunteering for Big Brothers of America, Volunteers of America of Western Washington, and Vietnam Education Fund, which he founded with Aimee.
Steve loved Mozart operas and Irish ballads, souvenir magnets, his vast collection of books, sharing historical anecdotes, stand-up comedy, and his roles as Uncle Steve and a "Girl Dad." In work and in life, he valued camaraderie and service to others over prestige.
Steve's family expresses deep gratitude to Drs. Vincent Picozzi, Mark Beiter, and Ananth Shenoy, and the teams at Virginia Mason and Evergreen Hospice, who cared for him with expertise, compassion, and love in his final year.
Services will be on Thursday, July 27th, with a recitation of the Rosary at 9:30 am, and a requiem Mass at 10 am, both at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 22209 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace, WA, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 pm at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA.
In lieu of flowers his family suggests making a donation to Vietnam Education Fund (www.vnef.org) or St. Francis De Sales School (www.sfsknights.org), or reaching out to a friend who really needs a laugh.
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