Richard Dean Kennedy

January 20, 1928 - April 23, 2020

Richard Dean Kennedy, age 92, passed away peacefully in his home on April 23, 2020. He leaves his wife, Nana, four children: Richard Kennedy Jr (Greg Weber) of Orlando, FL; Donald Kennedy (Patricia) of Grand Rapids, MI; Kerry Magrini (David) of Avon, CT; Kristen Steketee (Matthew) of Grand Rapids, MI; and nine grandchildren. Dick was born in Chicago, IL and grew up in New Haven, CT. After graduation from Carnegie Mellon University as an electrical engineer, he joined General Electric Co. where he managed several marketing operations. When he joined American Seating Co. in Grand Rapids, he managed business planning and marketing. In 1972, he founded Kennedy Research, an opinion research firm, serving a number of Michigan and national organizations. When his firm was acquired by Wirthlin Worldwide, an international research and consulting firm, Dick became its executive vice president and marketing director. After retiring from Wirthlin, he joined Coldwell Banker Schmidt real estate in its Sutton Bay office. He did post graduate study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Western Michigan University and taught as an adjunct professor in Aquinas College's Master of Management program. During the Korean conflict, Dick attended Newport OCS and served as a Navy lieutenant and anti-aircraft gun fire control systems project director in the Naval Bureau of Ordinance in Washington, DC. In recent years he was been an active member of the Traverse City Rotary Club, Traverse City Economic Club, Community Foundation, International Affairs Forum, Omena Breakfast Society and the La Trappe Creek Society. Contributions can be made to the Salvation Army. A Memorial Service will be planned for a later date.