John Taylor Hennessey

Portsmouth, - John Taylor Hennessey, 63, of 104 Pleasant Street Portsmouth, died Friday, January 17, 2003 at home.He was the husband of Kathleen Dutra Hennessey of Portsmouth. Born in Boston, MA on April 28, 1939, he was the son of the late John J. and Helen Taylor Hennessey. Mr. Hennessey earned his bachelor?s degree in electrical engineering from Tufts University in 1960. He served in the Navy and fought in the Vietnam War. He worked at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center for 35 years, retiring in 1996. He had 35 years experience in anti-submarine warfare ASW system operations and management, underwater range system testing, Navy budgetary processes and government acquisition life cycle support. During the more than 20 years he served as the NUWC branch head responsible for conducting onboard ASW system trials on surface ships and submarines, Mr. Hennessey personally conducted more than 50 trials. As head of the Newport Ranges branch for three years, he managed 30 personnel and a number of boats. Earlier in his career, he served aboard the destroyer USS Hugh Purvis as ASW officer and later as navigator and weapons officer. He attended the Navy ASW school and, after resigning from the Navy, became an electronics engineer in the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Fire Control Department. Besides his wife he leaves a stepson Paul Marques of Newport, RI, three daughters Karen Hennesssey of Boston, MA, Kathleen Bouthillier of Mansfield, MA, and Susan Frost of Middletown, RI, his stepdaughter Terrie Dugan of Newport, RI, one grandson and three step granddaughters. A Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2003, at 11:00 AM in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be private.Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice Outreach, 502 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA 02720.