The Honourable John Conway Kennedy, Retired Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario passed away on December 27, 2023. He went peacefully surrounded by family at home on the shores of a calm Lake Huron on a blustery winter morning.

John was born in 1944 in London, Ontario. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 47 years of marriage Terri and their four “darling dots” Robyn, Raegan, Lindsay and Tara Kennedy. He leaves behind his cherished grandchildren Anna, Hilary, Luke, Lily, Jack and Charlie, his beloved shih tzu, 17-year-old Maddie/Bobble and his two sons-in-law, Simon McGrath and Peter Martell. John also leaves his sisters Lore (Jack Brown) and Louise and brother Bill and his “favourite cousin” Wendy Wright Nowlan (Connecticut). His dear brother Sandy passed away just over one year ago, and undoubtedly is waiting at the golden gates for John in a sparkly speedy cigarette boat.

Terri and John met as teenagers and shared a life-long love story. Together they created beautiful and busy homes in London, Grand Bend and Florida, followed eventually by multiple sheds and then ultimately outbuildings for all of John’s “toys”. They travelled seasonally between these homes and around the Great Lakes and couldn’t imagine why you would ever want to be anywhere else. They lived a beautiful life of hosting family, connecting with boating friends and, most importantly, enjoying the company of each other. John was an incredible and adoring father, protector, friend, confidante and advisor to his daughters. His priority was that his girls were healthy and happy and he was happiest when they were all close to home. He instilled in them a love of music, long drives, a sense of civic duty and devotion to family. John was also a particularly influential uncle and godfather to many nieces and nephews. He was especially fond of Cameron Cross and Dr. Douglas Grace who both took very good care of him until his final days.

John grew up on Cheapside Street and was incredibly proud of his London roots. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario law school (as it then was). A brilliant legal mind, John joined Lerners LLP in the late 1960s working under Mayer and Sam Lerner. He was instrumental in expanding Lerners LLP and growing the firm as Senior and then Managing Partner in addition to being appointed Queens Counsel. Naturally, John had many friends in the legal world, including his closest friends and mentors Earl Cherniak, KC and The Honourable Tom Granger, KC. In the words of his colleagues John was famous in the legal community for being able to squeeze the last penny out of an insurance company. He never had a client who did not believe that he had obtained the best result that the law would allow. Friends say John knew everyone in Huron County and one of his happiest days was when his judicial district was changed from London to Goderich. John had no patience for pretension and made a point of knowing the first name of every person who worked in the courthouse. In the words of a dear friend, “when a front-end loader was needed for work in the Goderich square area I fully expected that John was going to appear in his judicial robes operating the heavy machinery.” He was a true leader, a mentor to many clerks and students and enjoyed the company of a varied group of people who truly enriched his life.

John’s passion for the law was closely paralleled by his enthusiasm and love of watercraft. In his youth, although not the Olympian in his family, he loved to ski, waterski and tinker with boats. On a weekend, holiday or even a late night after work, John could always be found near the boat docks. He was a life-long member of the Great Lakes Cruising Club, ultimately serving as Commodore to the fleet, sharing beautiful friendships and celebrations at the annual rendezvous in both Canada and the US. He also dabbled in the boat business, owning and operating The Boat Store, possibly just to get access to all the boat shows in North America and first dibs on the newest Sea Rays. John and Terri spent their summers aboard “Fours Enough”, exploring the Great Lakes, Georgian Bay and passageways of the North Channel. They enjoyed John’s later years at Killarney Mountain Lodge. John did not like the snow and spent as much time as possible during the winter in Bal Harbour, Miami, before eventually retiring to the boating community of Marco Island as a snowbird.

John was always collecting “toys”, watching “feetball”, and taking care of his cedar hedges and the many lawns under his charge. He was a natural engineer and could be found in his workshops with many new inventions to solve problems around the house. He had a lifelong fascination with technology, always exploring the newest gadget.

John was an incredibly generous and proud husband, son, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He would do anything to help a friend or relative out and if he couldn’t he was exceptionally good at finding an expert who could. Many friends and family relied on him for his good advice. He loved a good joke and loved to laugh. He enjoyed practical jokes – which he shared with his late brother Sandy, to the detriment of the love life of his sisters and daughters. He was big-hearted, big-humoured and lived his life fully. We should all be so lucky to know what we love, and to build a life honouring it so clearly.

It has been incredibly hard for all of us to watch such a brilliant man, and the North Star to his five women, succumb to such a terrible illness. We are so grateful to Tracey, Angela, Carolyn, Fallon, Betty, Elena and all the others who have helped us support him at home. We are also so incredibly grateful to our mother, Terri who lovingly and unrelentingly stayed by his side. We know Dad went in peace, feeling so loved and safe in his own bed as he wished.

Dad loved nothing more than watching the sunset out at “the front” on the shores of Lake Huron in beautiful Grand Bend. He will live on in the many trees he planted, every sunset we watch, each boat ride we take, and in our enduring love for our family.

John is predeceased by his parents Dr. John (Jack) Conway Kennedy and Jean Lawson Kennedy. He is also predeceased by his adoring grandparents the Honourable Ray and Helen Lawson with whom he was exceptionally close. His other dearly departed relatives include his Uncle, Ray “Bic” Lawson with whom he exchanged decades of letters; and cousin by marriage Bob Nowlan, with whom he shared many entertaining political debates and laughs around the table at Marco in his later years. He dearly missed his cousin Andrew Lawson and friend Jeff Wouters.

In lieu of flowers, we would be grateful to hear your favourite memories. Please send them to thejckennedys@gmail.com If you like, please consider donating to the John and Terri Kennedy Family Fund of the London Community Foundation https://www.lcf.on.ca/fundpages/2019/1/17/john-and-terri-kennedy-family-fund or the John and Terri Kennedy Award at King’s University College.

A memorial service will be conducted at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 280 St. James St. at Wellington, London, on Tuesday, January 2 at 11 am.  Reception to follow at the London Hunt and Country Club.