Doug Kennedy devoted his life to helping others.
From molding and teaching kids at Camp Oakland (now Crossroads for Youth) to protecting and serving the public as a reserve officer for the Oxford Village Police Department, Kennedy positively impacted everyone he came in contact with.
‘He quietly seved the community without seeking recognition,? said Dr. Janet McPeek, president of Crossroads for Youth. ‘He worked because he believed in what he was doing, whether on the job or in the community.?
‘It is good to know his story will be told.?
Sadly, Kennedy will not be able to read his story as he passed away Friday, March 24. He was 63.
But hopefully this article will preserve his memory and honor his accomplishments.
Kennedy worked at Camp Oakland/Crossroads for Youth from 1970 to 2002.
‘He worked hard and took great pride in having a job that involved helping kids,? McPeek said.
Kennedy began his career as a child care worker, teaching teenage boys in the Work Education Program the work ethic and skills necessary to become self-supporting when they turned 18.
‘Doug leaves behind a long legacy of kids who learned from him not just the daily skills he was there to teach, but also that some adults do their job because they care and not just to get a paycheck,? McPeek said.
Kennedy taught and led by example. When he would take kids out into the community to help with some service project, he ‘didn’t just stand back to watch.?
‘He was involved and wouldn’t ask a kid to do a job that he wasn’t willing to be doing alongside him or her,? Mc Peek said. ‘Kids respected him, knew he meant business and worked to receive his approval. They also truly liked him because he knew how to talk to them.?
‘He had held high professional standards for himself and expected others to adhere to them as well,? she said, noting whenever the kids were out in the community, Kennedy ‘expected them to conduct themselves as ladies and gentleman.?
Eventually, he became supervisor of the Work Education Program.
‘Many of our staff speak of Doug as giving them some of the best training they ever received when he was their supervisor,? McPeek said.
He also served as Employment Coordinator, which meant helping students in the programs find and maintain jobs in the community.
‘Doug was always available by phone and/or pager to the kids and their employers (with troubleshooting) and help the job placement go smoothly,? McPeek said.
‘When he retired, he said that he wanted to look back and feel that he had used his experience and knowledge to help staff and youths build a better world for all,? McPeek noted. ‘I hope that you’ll let the readers know that he did accomplish that and more.?
Outside of Crossroads for Youth, Kennedy served Oxford as a village police reservist since 1999.
‘He was a good man,? said Sgt. Mike Solwold, who coincidentally used to be employed as a child care worker at Crossroads under Kennedy’s supervision. ‘He always had a passion for helping people out and for police work. He thought, ‘Why not combine the two???
‘The man was dedicated. He would basically drop whatever he was doing if I had a detail for him to work. He really liked working with the kids, especially the finger-printing programs we do at special events.?
On the job, Solwold said Kennedy ‘was a stickler.?
‘He was always the guy you could count on if you wanted something done right,? the sergeant said.
On a personal note, Solwold described Kennedy as a ‘good mentor? and a ‘kind and giving man.?
‘The guy would do anything for anybody. It didn’t matter who you were.?
Kennedy, a navy veteran, is survived by his beloved wife of 14 years Terri and his children Todd (Misty), Heather (Joe), Sean (Lori), Heather (Scott) and Marcus.
He was grandfather of Brennan, Carson, Ava, Julia, Jenna, Ryan, Walker, Ally, Richard, Mariah, Kevin, David and Chris. He was the brother of Arlene (Jack) Measley, Illeen (Larry) Wallace, Marilyn (Gabe) Gabriel, Brian (Anne) Kennedy, Linda Kennedy, Don (Diane) Kennedy, Phylis (Mark) McConnell and Brenda (Kenneth) Phillips.
Kennedy was the son of Lillian Fox and step-son of Tiny Kennedy. He was the son-in-law of Jerry and Shirley Clark and brother-in-law of Jerry (Doris) Clark, Randy (Kathy) Clark and Brian (Alton) Clark.
He was the former husband of Charmaine Kennedy and very best friend of Cleveland Wester. He’s preceded in death by his father Earl Kennedy, brother Bill Kennedy and sister Ginger Kennedy.
A funeral was held for Kennedy Tuesday, March 28 at Bossardet Chapel Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Oxford. Interment was at Eastlawn Cemetery.
Memorials to the American Diabetes Association are appreciated.