Former Northrup Associates Real Estate firm owner
Published May 5, 2021
DANVERS — John B. Kennedy Jr., 84, of Danvers, formerly of Lynnfield, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2021 at Brightview Senior Living in Danvers.
John was born in Boston on Nov. 10, 1936. He was the son of the late John B. Kennedy Sr. and Helen (Donahue) Kennedy.
John was a graduate of Sharon High School, Class of 1954. He was the owner of the Northrup Associates Real Estate firm in Lynnfield from 1980 until 2000, and helped many families in town find their perfect home. In 1985, he was appointed by Gov. Michael Dukakis to chair the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers. John was recognized throughout the state for his high ethics and integrity that he brought to the profession.
He was active in the Lynnfield Rotary, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. He was very active in volunteer work such as serving as a lector at St. Maria Goretti Parish, serving on Democratic Town Committee and was president of Rotary Club. In 1982, he initiated the Rotary Club “Citizen of the Year” Award. He served as the Greater Salem Board of Realtors vice president from 1984 through 1985. Over the years, he has been an avid Red Sox baseball fan and an active member of the BoSox club.
He was the beloved husband of the late Rita T. (Ouellette) Kennedy. John was the father of Lisa Kennedy Crooke and her husband William R. Crooke of Cupertino, California; and John Kennedy III and his wife Linda Kennedy of Beecher Falls, Vermont. He was the brother of the late Reed Kennedy, David Kennedy, Ellen Kennedy, Margaret Cruz and Anne Fisher.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Brightview Senior Living in Danvers for providing John with loving care and for offering a place for social activities and friendship.
Visitation for relatives and friends at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield took place on Sunday, May 2. A Funeral Mass was held at Saint Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., on Monday, May 3. Interment took place at Forest Hill Cemetery, in Lynnfield. A Celebration of Life event will be held in the summer of 2021 on a yet to be determined date.
In lieu of flowers, honorary donations may be made to the National MS Society.
