James Joseph Kennedy Jr.'s Obituary
James J. “Jim” Kennedy, Jr., passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026. He was born on August 30, 1932, in Poughkeepsie, New York, the only child of James J. Kennedy, Sr., and Emma (Card) Kennedy.
After earning his law degree from Fordham University and serving two years in the United States Army, Jim moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962 to begin a lifelong career in the labor movement with the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers. A proud union man throughout his life, Jim devoted decades to advocating for working people and organized labor. During his distinguished career, he also served with the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks, the AFL-CIO, and the Union Labor Life Insurance Company.
Jim was equally proud of his Irish heritage. For 25 years, he was a dedicated leader of the DC Friends of Ireland, serving as President and later President Emeritus, where he helped strengthen the bonds of friendship, culture, and community between Ireland and the nation’s capital. His love of Ireland, labor, politics, and storytelling made him a familiar and respected presence among friends and colleagues alike.
Beyond his family, Jim’s lifelong passions were politics and the New York Yankees.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Bonnie (Pearson) Kennedy, in 2010.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Sharon Mahoney Kennedy; his children, James, Brian (Elizabeth), Marian Steiding (Mark), and William Kennedy; and his cherished grandchildren, Megan, Joseph, Sean, Brian, Nicole, and Samantha Kennedy; Luke, and Emma Steiding.
Jim will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to working families, his pride in his Irish roots, his devotion to family, and the wit, loyalty, and conviction with which he lived his life.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 11:00 am, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Clarksville Chapel, 34874 Atlantic Avenue, Ocean View, DE, where family and friends may visit from 10:00 am - 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim's memory to Save the Children
or
Beebe Cancer Patient special needs fund.
902 Savannah Road
Lewes, Delaware 19958.
Please sign the tribute wall located at this website.
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