James Gerard Kennedy Sr.
Kennedy circa 1970-1980
Born(1907-02-07)February 7, 1907
Harlem, New York City
DiedDecember 24, 1997(1997-12-24) (aged 90)
Larchmont, New York
OccupationConstruction
Spouses
Antoinette Granato
​
​
(m. 1940⁠–⁠1942)​
  • Rita Massert
Parent(s)James Joseph Kennedy (1866-1926)
Katherine Carr (1865-1951)

James Gerard Kennedy Sr. (February 7, 1907 – December 24, 1997) aka James G. Kennedy, was the founder, president, and chairman of James G. Kennedy & Company, Inc. in New York City.[1][2]

Biography

James was born in 1907 in Harlem, New York City, the son of James Joseph Kennedy (1866-1926), a plasterer, and Katherine Carr (1865-1951). Both were immigrants from Ireland. His siblings include: Kathryn Kennedy (1897-1974) aka Sis Kennedy, who married Joseph O'Malley (1893-1985) who was the uncle of Walter Francis O'Malley (1903-1979), the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1950 to 1979; Mary Frances Kennedy (1898-1982); Josephine Kennedy (1899-1900) aka Sarah Kennedy; Thomas Kennedy (1901-1972); James Gerard Kennedy I (1902-1903); and Joseph Kennedy (1905-1983).[1] In 1920 the family was living at West 160th Street in Manhattan.[3]

He attended Townsend Harris High School and graduated in three years. He attended the Mechanical Institute in New York City. He then worked as a plasterer, as did his father. In 1935 he founded the eponymous James G. Kennedy & Co., Inc. He served during World War II with the Army Corps of Engineers. His first major renovation project was for Bankers Trust company for their building at 14 Wall Street.[1]

He married Antoinette Granato (1916-1942) around 1940 and she died of cancer in 1942 after being hospitalized for 2 months.[1] In 1991 his company began reconstruction of the Fifth Avenue headquarters of the American Irish Historical Society.[4]

Death

James died December 24, 1997, in Larchmont, New York.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "James G. Kennedy Sr". New York Times. December 27, 1997. Retrieved 2007-12-30. At home on December 24, 1997. James G. Kennedy Sr., Chairman of the Board of James G. Kennedy & Co., Inc., began his career as a plasterer for the old Davis, Brown Company. He was born in Manhattan's Harlem and attended Townsend Harris High School.
  2. ↑ "James G. Kennedy & Company, Inc". James G. Kennedy & Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  3. ↑ 1920 US census for Manhattan
  4. ↑ "Renovation. American Irish Society". New York Times. November 24, 1991. Retrieved 2007-12-30. The contractor was James G. Kennedy Company of Manhattan.
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