Jay Patrick Kennedy

A life well lived, and a man well loved. A man that you would want at your side, a man that never faltered in his love, his strength or his honesty. The kind of guy you wish you were, or at least you could call in a pinch. He approached life with wit, humor and a sparkle in his eye. And he approached death the same way.

Jay was born in Paterson NJ, the son of Dr. Eugene T. and Helen M. Kennedy. Jay’s father, as a general practitioner in a small town, was witness to many miraculous things, including the birth of his future daughter-in-law, Polly Stewart. Jay and Polly became high school sweethearts, lovers and best friends, who just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

Jay attended St. Bonaventure University, where he was an active member of the ROTC. After graduation, he and Polly were married at Saint Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ and were stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where Jay served as Allied Liaison Officer and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant in the United States Army. Fort Sill was the starting point for their family, where daughter Liz was born and the launch pad for their next two wonderful daughters Mary Cate and Megan.

For work, most of Jay’s time was spent at IBM as a salesman for everything from typewriters to mid range computers. An original Garden Stater, he and Polly retired to Cape Cod in 2002, where they embraced a whole new life joining Chatham Harwich Newcomers Club with its myriad of new friends and activities, Cranberry Valley Golf Club, the Mid-Cape Men’s Club and a woodworking group that faced challenges like creating a 3 foot long wooden screw for the gearing of a windmill. Jay was a regular volunteer at the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, Meals on Wheels, and Chatham First Night. He and Polly loved to travel from here to there, from the Grand Canyon to China, hand in hand, on foot, on a bike, on a whim.

Jay loved to tinker. He loved to fix. He loved to make it right, exactly right. He was an engineer without a degree. He inspired, he made us laugh, and he made us better people. That is about as good as you can ask. He was an inspiration of patience, of humility, of fortitude, and of love.

Jay leaves behind a legacy of love that includes his wife Polly, daughters Megan, Mary Cate (Devey) and husband Larry, Liz (Thornton) and husband Kevin, his cherished grandchildren, Jay and his wife Katherine, Matthew, Kelly, Cate, Sean, Ryan and Luke, and his devoted bedside companion Bailee. He also leaves behind his beloved siblings Sister Marigene of Olean NY, Rhe of New York, NY and Terry and wife Beth of Poughkeepsie NY, sister-in-law Meg of Ormond Beach, FL. Jay is predeceased by his brother Tim.

Friends & family are invited to an informal celebration of Jay’s life on Monday, September 24 between the hours of 5 and 8 PM. Light fare will be served. Cranberry Valley Golf Course Clubhouse, 183 Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645

The funeral mass will be held at the St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans, MA on Tuesday September 25th at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Family Pantry of Cape Cod , 133 Queen Anne Rd, Harwich, MA 02645, as well as St. Jude's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor Norwalk, CT 06851.