Richard Carl Kennedy, 65, of Chattanooga died on Friday, July 15, 2011.
He was born November 11, 1945 in Wareham, Ma., to the late William Dempsey and Jean (Young) Kennedy.
He spent his early years in Kingsport, Tn., graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1967, and received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1974. He spent four years serving in the United States Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Tx., where he received the Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.
He had practiced law in Chattanooga, Tennessee from 1974 to the present.
Mr. Kennedy was preceded in death by his step-mother Jessie Mae Seay and his mother-in-law Maria Hedges.
Survivors include his wife, Susanne Hedges Kennedy; sons, Richard Charles (Margaret) Kennedy, and Ben (Joy) Kennedy; daughter, Elizabeth (Mark) Fisher; grandchildren, Charles Porter Kennedy, Cecilia Rose Marie Kennedy, Richard Joseph Kennedy and Henry Charles Kennedy; sister, Marty (Don) Brennan and nieces, Laura, Erin, Katherine, and Emily; sister, Barbara (Jeff Kaplan) Kennedy and nieces, Hallie and Abbey; stepsister, Sue Wright; father-in-law, Charles Hedges; brother-in-law, Ken Hedges and nephews, Taylor and Spencer; brother-in-law, Craig (Kerri Ann) Hedges and nieces, Larissa, Damaris, Cameron, and Mallory; sister-in-law, Barbara (John) Canney and nephew, Garrett; and sister-in-law, Donna Pica and nephew, Alleandro.
Mr. Kennedy had a varied and rewarding life. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, he had many friends and was a lover of the outdoors and of the Chattanooga community.
He served as president of the Metropolitan Chattanooga YMCA, Camp Ocoee, The Bright School and The Girls Club of Chattanooga. He also served on the board of Reflection Riding Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Mr. Kennedy established his own law firm in 1985 and at his death was a senior partner in the respected firm, Kennedy, Koontz & Farinash. He gave back to his profession as well as the community in many ways over the course of his career.
Among his many leadership positions, he served as president of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute and the Chattanooga Bar Association. In 1996, he became the first practicing member of the Chattanooga Bar to be admitted into the prestigious American College of Bankruptcy.
Many of his colleagues thought of Dick as the personification of "collegiality."
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Chattanooga Metropolitan YMCA, the Chattanooga Nature Center, and any Alzheimer's research foundation.
The family will receive friends at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn., 423 698-2541, on Tuesday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and from 4:30–6:30 p.m.
A family graveside service will be held Wednesday with the Honorable Reverend Sam Payne officiating.
Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel in charge of arrangements.