Dr. John Gerald "Gerry" Kennedy, 45, who grew up in Evanston and went on to become chief of neurosurgery at the Hitchcock Clinic of the South New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, N.H., died of a brain tumor Aug. 26 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua. Dr. Kennedy moved to Evanston when he was 12. He attended Northwestern University and later received a medical degree from Southern Illinois University. "He lived his life for medicine," said his mother, Noel Gardiner Kennedy. "He knew by about age 7 that he was going to be a doctor." He served his residency in neurosurgery at Georgetown University in Washington and at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H. He was at the Hitchcock Clinic for the past 10 years. Other survivors include his wife, Dr. Bernadette Johnson; three daughters, Cardin, Leda and Fiona; and two sisters, Carolyn Kennedy Graupner and Susan Kennedy Cousins.
Gerry was a very good friend both at ETHS and at NU. We reconnected a year before he died but he had already been diagnosed with a glioma. He shared how he diagnosed himself as he was both a neurologist and a neurosurgeon. What a tragedy! So sad to die so young with 3 young daughters.
I met John "Gerry" Kenndy at NIchols Jr. High. We were in a production of the play ANTIGONE, writtne by jean Cocteau. Jerry was a very personable individual, and extremely bright. He was taken way too soon. Michael Dorn.
I would feel remiss were I not to write a note about our mutual good friend, Gerry Kennedy, as Nancy Lyons so eloquently did a few years ago. After all, as difficult as it is to believe, we are coming up on 25 years since his passing. Gerry was larger than life, a true Renaissance man. He was jovial, handsome, artistic, intelligent and, most of all, someone who always encouraged others to succeed. Gerry must have known that life can be short as he lived every day to its fullest. He was an avid sailor and my wife and I were fortunate to have sailed with him right before we got married, a trip I will never forget. Once, during his residency, he revealed to me his credit card debt. When I expressed surprise, he simply said, "hey, you never know what tomorrow brings." Gerry, I miss you. Finally, thank you, Nancy, for the posts you made. I know how much Gerry meant to you as well. Bless your heart 💜 Joe Hermann
Like everyone else, I was shocked to hear about Gerry's passing. He and I were locker mates during our freshmen year. He was in swimming and I was playing football. We were in many classes together and sat near each other (he was a "K" and I was an "L"). We became good friends and did some crazy things; like sailing his little Sea Snark boat out on Lake Michigan in early Arpril...freezing! He was on the edge of our little clan of friends ("the group" : Jack Martin, Greg Van Sweringen, Warren Grant, Steve Alden and I) as he was a little more serious about studying than the rest of usI As life goes we drifted apart but I always knew he'd be a success. I can still see his happy smile when I think of our good times together.
Nancy Lyons
DR. JOHN GERALD KENNEDY
Dr. John Gerald "Gerry" Kennedy, 45, who grew up in Evanston and went on to become chief of neurosurgery at the Hitchcock Clinic of the South New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, N.H., died of a brain tumor Aug. 26 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua. Dr. Kennedy moved to Evanston when he was 12. He attended Northwestern University and later received a medical degree from Southern Illinois University. "He lived his life for medicine," said his mother, Noel Gardiner Kennedy. "He knew by about age 7 that he was going to be a doctor." He served his residency in neurosurgery at Georgetown University in Washington and at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H. He was at the Hitchcock Clinic for the past 10 years. Other survivors include his wife, Dr. Bernadette Johnson; three daughters, Cardin, Leda and Fiona; and two sisters, Carolyn Kennedy Graupner and Susan Kennedy Cousins.
Nancy Lyons
Gerry was a very good friend both at ETHS and at NU. We reconnected a year before he died but he had already been diagnosed with a glioma. He shared how he diagnosed himself as he was both a neurologist and a neurosurgeon. What a tragedy! So sad to die so young with 3 young daughters.
Michael Dorn
I met John "Gerry" Kenndy at NIchols Jr. High. We were in a production of the play ANTIGONE, writtne by jean Cocteau. Jerry was a very personable individual, and extremely bright. He was taken way too soon. Michael Dorn.
Joe Hermann
I would feel remiss were I not to write a note about our mutual good friend, Gerry Kennedy, as Nancy Lyons so eloquently did a few years ago. After all, as difficult as it is to believe, we are coming up on 25 years since his passing.Gerry was larger than life, a true Renaissance man. He was jovial, handsome, artistic, intelligent and, most of all, someone who always encouraged others to succeed.
Gerry must have known that life can be short as he lived every day to its fullest. He was an avid sailor and my wife and I were fortunate to have sailed with him right before we got married, a trip I will never forget. Once, during his residency, he revealed to me his credit card debt. When I expressed surprise, he simply said, "hey, you never know what tomorrow brings." Gerry, I miss you.
Finally, thank you, Nancy, for the posts you made. I know how much Gerry meant to you as well. Bless your heart 💜
Joe Hermann
Andre (Andy) Lareau
Like everyone else, I was shocked to hear about Gerry's passing. He and I were locker mates during our freshmen year. He was in swimming and I was playing football. We were in many classes together and sat near each other (he was a "K" and I was an "L"). We became good friends and did some crazy things; like sailing his little Sea Snark boat out on Lake Michigan in early Arpril...freezing! He was on the edge of our little clan of friends ("the group" : Jack Martin, Greg Van Sweringen, Warren Grant, Steve Alden and I) as he was a little more serious about studying than the rest of usI As life goes we drifted apart but I always knew he'd be a success. I can still see his happy smile when I think of our good times together.
Andy