Westfield, MA – Thomas F. Kennedy, Jr. of Westfield, MA died on June 12, 2018 at Baystate Medical Center. He was born in Springfield, MA on November 20, 1926, the son of the late Thomas Kennedy Sr. and Mary Hopkins Kennedy. He was a graduate of Suffield High School and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his Master’s degree from American International College. Tom was a teacher at Suffield High School and Westfield Junior High School and later served as a guidance counselor. In 1971 Tom joined the Massachusetts Teachers Association as a consultant and was promoted to Regional Service Manager for the region encompassing Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties retiring, in 1984. In 1984 Tom accepted an appointment as the first full-time Personnel Director for the City of Westfield serving until retiring from that post in 1994. Tom was a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in Westfield. He was a Past Grand Knight and life member of Whip City Council 100 of Westfield and a past member of Elks Lodge 1849 in Chicopee. Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Joan W. Kennedy. He is also survived by his five children: Sheila A. Conroy and her husband Patrick of Westfield, Kevin J. Kennedy and his wife, Mary Ellen of West Springfield, Michael F. Kennedy and his wife Julie of Westfield, Aileen M. Becker and her husband Howard W. Becker of Chandler, Arizona, and Patrick T. Kennedy and his wife, Laurie of Westfield. Tom’s first wife, Ellen Ferriter Kennedy predeceased him in 1976. Tom also leaves his grandchildren, Melissa Richter, Rebecca Kennedy, Aimee Becker, Sean Kennedy, Liam Kennedy, and two great-grandchildren, Eli Richter and Emma Rose Richter. The funeral will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018, from Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad St., Westfield at 9 AM followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 AM in Holy Trinity Church, Elm St., Westfield. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery in Westfield. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be held on Sunday from 3-5 PM. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Holy Trinity Church Boiler Fund, 330 Elm St., Westfield, MA 01085 or Westfield Homeless Cat Project, 1124 East Mt. Rd., Westfield, MA 01085. Firtionadams.com
