John Raymond Kennedy

John Raymond Kennedy died at home with loved ones at his side in the early morning hours of his 67th birthday following a difficult battle with cancer. John’s life was characterized by three key values, each of which were an expression of his faith: care for the natural world, commitment to community, and love for family.

John was born June 21,1952 in Long Beach, California. He grew up in Long Beach and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1970. Among his fondest memories were numerous camping and fishing trips with family and surfing the beaches of Southern California with his brothers. These experiences became the foundation of John’s future academic and professional life. John attended Sacramento State University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration in 1977. After college, John worked for the US Forest Service leading Youth Conservation Corps crews in forest management. He worked for a season on the El Dorado National Forest, and a second season on the Tahoe National Forest. It was during this latter assignment that he met his wife. They were married in June of 1981 and two months later John completed a Masters of Science Degree in Recreation and Parks Administration at Sacramento State University. The couple then relocated to Tucson, Arizona where they lived for the next three years and started a family. Carrying his love of the natural world to the desert, John became a docent at the renowned Arizona Sonora Desert Museum using the interpretive skills his college training had provided. He applied the natural resource management skills acquired through his degree programs to air quality concerns in an urban environment when hired by the Pima County Air Quality Control District. This role established the path to the work he would do for the rest of his professional life.

In 1984 the young family moved back to California where John started his work with the US Environmental Protection Agency. Over the course of the next 31 years John would fill several roles in EPA Region 9. He worked for two decades in the Air Division managing air pollution monitoring systems and modeling programs. Among his significant accomplishments in this arena was the instrumental role he played in the establishment of a protocol for identifying and evaluating the potential health hazards of wildfire smoke. This is the system that was used to inform the public about air quality during the recent wildfires in Northern California. He would later work in the Superfund Division at EPA and was involved in coordinating numerous toxic clean-up projects in the west. He also served as a liaison between federal agencies when he became the Homeland Security Coordinator for EPA Region 9. In this capacity he helped develop EPA plans for emergency response. He organized crews of specialists and support workers who were deployed to crisis situations such as New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Over his many years at EPA John earned numerous recognitions. Perhaps the one of which he was most proud was a 2009 American Society for Public Administration award for his collaborative work in the creation of the California Air Response Planning Alliance (CARPA). This organization was formed to coordinate the efforts of various federal, state, local, and tribal agencies during air quality emergencies in order to more effectively inform the public and mitigate health concerns.

Following his retirement in 2014 John continued his commitment to the health of the planet and stewardship of its resources. He remained connected to the EPA mission through the Environmental Protection Network (EPN), an organization of agency alumni who advocate for environmental interests from outside the government. He also regularly joined other local EPA retirees on hikes of local trails. Additionally, in retirement he reinvigorated his interpretive skills by becoming a docent at the Pt. Reyes National Seashore Visitors Center, a role which he delighted in.

Retirement also allowed John to engage more fully in Petaluma, the community he loved and called home for over 35 years. John had long been an active member in the St. James Catholic Church Parish. For a number of years he worked with young people in the Youth Ministry Program. He also played guitar and sang in one of the Church choirs and was a member of the Parish Council. After retirement he helped develop and improve the community garden planted on Parish grounds. Produce from the garden is regularly donated to the Petaluma Kitchen to feed the hungry. For many years John also delivered food boxes from the kitchen to those in need. He was active in the Cursillo program and participated in several weekend events through which deep, long standing friendships were formed.

Nearly three years ago John became involved with a diverse group of Petalumans who sought to integrate various interests and groups in our community, improve communication and understanding, and work together to address issues and problems that impact life here. They formed the Petaluma Community Relations Council for which John wrote the mission statement, facilitated meetings, and organized informational programs.

John will be missed by countless friends and colleagues, and most especially by family. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Patch-Kennedy, son Adam Kennedy, daughter Brie Kennedy Severn and son-in-law Jason Severn, granddaughters Clare and Chloe Severn, his mother Delia Kennedy, brothers Tim Kennedy and Chris Kennedy, sisters Louise Lahola and Lisa Bell, as well as numerous brothers and sisters in-law, and nieces and nephews who adore him. John was preceded in death by his father John Joseph Kennedy, father-in-law Robert Patch, and mother-in-law Kathleen Patch.

A funeral mass will be held in John’s honor on Friday, June 28, 11:00 am at St. James Catholic Church, Petaluma. A graveside service will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Petaluma. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to a cause close to John’s heart: Committee on the Shelterless/ COTS ( www.cots.org ) or Point Reyes National Seashore Association (ptreyes.thankyou4caring.org).