Published in the April 13-26, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Photo by Robert Airoldi
Dennis Kennedy swore in Claudia Rossi as a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education after she won the seat in the 2014 election.
Famous for an Irish twinkle in his eyes and kind thoughts in his soul, Dennis Kennedy played a major role in shaping the quality of life in Morgan Hill. He also took time to serve as a mentor for the next generation of political leaders serving Morgan Hill and the Santa Clara County region.
Many who knew him as a friend and political colleague will miss the man who died March 28 at home with family members after a brave bout with cancer. He built a solid foundation of integrity in words and deeds during his 40 years making the South Valley community his home and raising a family here.
Kennedy shaped the politics of our region in positive ways. His steps into Morgan Hill political activity began in the late 1970s when the rapidly accelerating urban development of Silicon Valley started causing infrastructure problems for Morgan Hill and he joined the Citizens For Orderly Residential Development activist group. He soon rose as a local leader for smart growth.
While working at IBM in facilities engineering and management for more than 25 years, Kennedy also served three terms on the Morgan Hill Planning Commission and two terms on the General Plan Update Committee. Citizens remember him for striving to bring civility to local government, especially as a city councilmember from 1990 to 1996 and as mayor of Morgan Hill from 1996 to 2006. During that time, he built a reputation as a political leader who encouraged open public engagement and respect for all opinions, especially when the conversation could get contentious.
Kennedy served three terms on the board of directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, working on projects that made our streets and highways safer. This included persevering on getting funding to build a median barrier along U.S 101, a construction that has saved hundreds of lives over the years. Until his illness forced him to resign in November, he served on the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Trustees, most notably working toward getting funding from the federal government to pay for the $137 million Upper Llagas Creek Flood Control Project to keep the creek from devastating downtown Morgan Hill during torrential rainstorms.
While working his own job and business activities, Kennedy also stayed active with a large number of nonprofit groups in the region. These included the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, The Aquatic Foundation, the Silicon Valley Land Conservatory, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, the Friends of the South Valley Symphony, St. Catherine’s Church, the Community Law Enforcement Foundation and the Morgan Hill Sister Cities Committee.
His quick wit allowed him to come up with a funny one-liner or two when the situation warranted or to deflect an awkward political moment. We loved how he would burst out with hearty laughter at his own jokes.
Kennedy also had a compassionate heart, reflected in the actions he took to go out of his way to help people in need. He always showed a sincere caring for the people of Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County, treating everyone as if they were one of his own family members. He was a passionate man, sometimes showing his true emotions by breaking into a few honest tears and getting a throb in his throat when he talked about someone who faced a crisis.
When he was honored in 2007 as the recipient of the Morgan Hill Leadership Excellence Award by the Leadership Morgan Hill organization, he talked about why he thought it was vital for people with competence and conviction to get involved in the politics of their community and be engaged in the process of making our city a good hometown for all our citizens. He gave a damn about good government.
Kennedy had a deep love for his family. His son Matthew, born in 1971, was his pride and joy. The two remained stead-fast friends as they stayed involved in activities fathers share with their boys. Kennedy was married twice, first to Therese, whom he cared for during a lengthy illness until she died. Later, he met a nurse named Eileen Washburn who was impressed with the handsome politician’s charm and grace. They married in 1998. Kennedy also took care of Eileen during an illness from which she died in 2012.
Kennedy was born in Omaha, Neb. Perhaps it was the plain and simple Midwest values that he received in his early years that shaped his deeply caring character. No doubt it also shaped his straight-forward political philosophy — the democratic belief that a public servant is there to serve the public. He did not get involved in civic engagement for personal gain but instead to make the quality of life better for everyone. And he felt proud to guide the next generation of leaders.
Kennedy will long be known as a man who made a difference. He will be known for his legendary activities in making our community a better place for all, including the generations of citizens to come. He will be fondly remembered by us and others as a gentleman with an Irish twinkle in his eyes and kind thoughts in his soul.
