Michael Lord Kennedy

Los Angeles, - Michael Lord Kennedy, 55, of 1566 Sanborn Avenue Los Angeles, formerly of 24 Greene Lane, Newport, died Saturday, December 14, 2002 at Country Villa Skilled Care Facility in Los Angeles. Born in Newport, RI on April 9, 1947, he was the son of James E. and Elizabeth Betty Lord Kennedy.Mr. Kennedy graduated from De La Salle Academy in 1966 and went on to Providence College where he graduated in 1970 with a Bachelor?s degree in Political Science. Michael was active in student affairs while at PC. He was instrumental in opening the first student lounge and spoke on behalf of his class at graduation. Following graduation, he joined the Peace Corps and served for seven and a half years in French West Africa. He began his work in the villages of Togo and went on to become a Professor of English and English as a Second Language at the University of Togo. Michael moved to Saudi Arabia following his service in the Peace Corps and went to work for Raytheon as a linguist. He traveled throughout the region during this time and was part of a caravan that crossed the Sahara Desert. He subsequently traveled to Greece, Ireland, England, France, Germany and Italy. He attended the University of Perugia for a year while he was in Italy and studied language. He attended Columbia University upon his return to the United States and earned a Master?s Degree in Education. He worked in Washington, DC after graduation from Columbia and later moved to Thousand Oaks, California where he worked for Litton Industries as a Technical Writer and Translator. Michael moved to Los Angeles after several years and did literary review and research for Random House. Michael was an accomplished artist and his works were displayed in shows in both California and Newport. He was an avid photographer, a writer, and enjoyed gardening. He was a Special Olympics volunteer in California and helped with their yearly salute and with functions at Paramount Studios. Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters Maureen Seiple of Middletown, RI, Gale E. Kennedy of Newport, RI, and Kathleen A. Kennedy of Santa Barbara, CA, one niece, six nephews, three grand-nieces and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2002, at 8:00AM from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a mass of Christian Burial at 9:00AM in St. Mary?s Church, Spring Street, Newport. Burial will be in the family lot at St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 or to the St. Mary?s Church Building Fund, PO Box 547, Newport, RI 02840.