Obituary of John E Kennedy

John E. Kennedy, of Peabody, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on August 9, 2018 at his home after an extended illness. John was born May 29, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Elsie (Kalchbrenner) Kennedy. John attended Harper High School, excelling in Football, Basketball and Baseball. It was at Harper where John met Betty Brown, who would later become his wife. At four years old, while listening to a radio broadcast of President Roosevelt’s funeral, John’s father Ed asked if he wanted to be President someday. He firmly answered, “NO, I want to be a baseball player!” And so he did, drafted by the Washington Senators out of high school in 1961 beginning a twelve-year career in professional baseball. He and Betty married on February 23, 1963 in Chicago and spent the next eight years traveling the country following John’s career before settling in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1970. Son Scott was born in 1964 in Alexandria, Virginia and daughter Kristen in 1968 in Columbus, Ohio. John played for the Washington Senators 1962-64, Los Angeles Dodgers 1965-66 (two World Series), New York Yankees 1967, Seattle Pilots 1969, Milwaukee Brewers 1970 and the Boston Red Sox from 1970-1974, where he was a fan-favorite earning the nickname Super Sub for his role as a utility infielder. Throughout his career, John was known for his hustle, often fiery disposition, and commitment to playing the game the way it was meant to be played. John was one of those unique individuals who discovered his passion at an early age and dedicated his life, with a lot of hard work and sacrifice along the way, to achieve his dream. After retiring as a player, John managed, coached and scouted for the Red Sox, Athletics, Yankees, Phillies and Tigers organizations, finishing his baseball career as Manager of the independent league North Shore Spirit in Lynn, Massachusetts from 2003-2006. John always enjoyed spending time at the beaches of Gloucester with his good friends, taking care of his four grandsons in their early years and attending their many sporting events as they grew older. John was predeceased by his parents, Ed and Elsie Kennedy, mother-in-law Rita Lambert Brown and sister-in-law Mary Rita Boland. He leaves his wife Betty Kennedy, son Scott Kennedy and partner Stacey Scott, daughter Kristen Aulbach and husband Kenneth Aulbach, grandchildren Christopher Kennedy, Kyle, Ian and Erik Aulbach, sister Carol Nutter, aunt Irma Heyer, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joan and Bob Harnett and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank everyone who helped care for John in his final days at home. There will be a private gathering to remember John at a later date.