Kenneth George Kennedy (1913 - 1985)

Born 6 Sep 1913 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Jessie (Somerville) Kennedy — married 1938 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Fay Vivienne (Sparks) Kennedy — married 1971 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 20 Aug 1985 at age 71 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Ken Kennedy is Notable.

This profile is part of the Kennedy Name Study.

Ken Kennedy was born in New South Wales, Australia

Kenneth George Kennedy was born on September 6, 1913 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, son of John Kennedy (1886–1957) and Eva Mary Byrne (1885–1964).

Ken Kennedy was the first Australian to be nominated by the Australian Olympic Federation to compete at a Winter Olympic Games, in his case the Games of 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany, where he competed in three speed skating events, the 500m, 1500m and 5000m. His best performance was 29th in the 500m, and finished 33rd of 37 in the other events.

Kennedy was the pioneer of a special band of Australian Olympic speed skaters who have had to prepare overseas for their events because of the lack of training facilities in Australia. Sport Australia Hall of Fame

He demonstrated his great versatility on ice by becoming one of the few Australians who have played ice hockey at the highest level overseas, playing with the Birmingham Maple Leafs (England) from 1935 to 1937, when that club was part of the biggest amateur league in the world.

When World War II broke out, Kennedy joined the Royal Air Force.^[1]

Ken (24) married Elizabeth Jessie Somerville (21) (born on March 31, 1916 in England, United Kingdom; daughter of Thomas Victor Somerville and Dorothy (Lethbridge) Kennedy) in 1938 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom.

Ken (57) married Fay Vivienne Sparks (45) (born about 1925; daughter of Creswell Vivian Sparks and Dulcie Matilda (Porter) Sparkes) in 1971 in Sydney.

Ken died on August 20, 1985 in Sydney, aged 71. He is commemorated at Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, Australia (plot: Ee - Rose Garden 26 - 0016).^[2]

Ken Kennedy was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.

Sources

1. ↑ Military: "Australia, Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940"
   National Archives of Australia; Kingston, ACT, Australia; Series Title: Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940; Series: B4747
   Ancestry Record 61986 #55295 (accessed 23 July 2023)
   Name: Kenneth George Kennedy; Birth Date: 6 Sep 1913; Military Packet Year Range: 1927-1946.
2. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #167530428 (accessed 23 July 2023)
   Memorial page for Kenneth George Kennedy (unknown-20 Aug 1985), citing Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland, Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, Australia (plot: Ee - Rose Garden 26 - 0016); Maintained by jlong (contributor 48741020).

See also:

• Military: "Australia, Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940"
  National Archives of Australia; Kingston, ACT, Australia; Series Title: Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940; Series: B4747
  Ancestry Record 61986 #55295 (accessed 23 July 2023)
  Name: Kenneth George Kennedy; Birth Date: 6 Sep 1913; Military Packet Year Range: 1927-1946.
• Obituary: "Australia and New Zealand, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
  The Sydney Morning Herald; Publication Date: 21 Aug 1985; Publication Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;Newspapers Clip: 128731687
  Ancestry Record 62223 #571880047 (accessed 23 July 2023)
  Name: Kenneth George Kennedy; Gender: Male; Death Age: 71; Birth Date: abt 1914; Death Date: 20 Aug 1985; Obituary Date: 21 Aug 1985; Obituary Place: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Newspaper Title: The Sydney Morning Herald; Spouse: Fay; Child: John Anne Cheryl.
• Wikidata: Item Q327887, en:Wikipedia