William Joseph Kennedy

El Dorado Hills, Calif. - William J. Kennedy, MD, a.k.a. Dr. Bill, passed away peacefully at his home in El Dorado Hills on June 6, 2023, with his daughter, Meg, by his side. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Born on May 26, 1932, in Omaha, Nebraska, Bill was the only son of Helen and William Kennedy with two older sisters who preceded him in death, Donna Milward and Joan Corippo. He grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., and attended Santa Clara University as an undergraduate in pre-med, an experience that connected him to the school throughout his life. He continued to medical school and residency at St. Louis University, where he met his wife, Martha Jean McCullough. Bill and Martha married June 7, 1958.

After medical school, Bill and Martha chose Salinas as the place to raise a family for its small-town midwestern sensibility. They shared a core value of education, and Bill dedicated himself to providing for his family, serving his patients, and ensuring educational opportunities for his five children. The family took many memorable vacations together, to Europe and often to Blue Lake, Calif., among many other trips. After the children were grown, the extended family, which came to include eight grandchildren, gathered each summer for more than 30 years at Sunriver, Oregon, where Bill fished as often as he could.

Throughout Bill’s 40 years of cardiology practice in Salinas Valley, he touched the lives of many – patients and colleagues alike. He was actively engaged within the medical community, serving on many executive committees in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Salinas Valley Memorial Foundation and a publicly-elected position on the Hospital’s Board of Directors.

After retirement, Bill enjoyed serving as a docent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for many years. In 2009, Bill and Martha moved to El Dorado Hills to be near their children and grandchildren. Bill volunteered as a docent at the Crocker Museum in Sacramento, a volunteer advisor to the Sutter Health Bioethics Committee and as a sexton and reader at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where he brought communion to homebound parishioners. Bill enjoyed taking watercolor painting classes through the Four Seasons Lodge and happily gave his art away to family and friends.

Bill was strongly connected to both his Catholic faith and Irish heritage. He loved classic Irish folk songs and the Irish hospitality, culture, and sense of humor. He lived his life true to his Catholic faith, attending weekly morning mass whenever able. Other pastimes included photography, bocce ball, and bird watching, but his deepest joy was being with his children and grandchildren. In his later years, he also took great joy in his loyal dog, Buddy, who kept close watch over him at all times.

He is survived by his five children - Robert Kennedy of Dexter, Mich.; Elizabeth Peterson of Diamond Springs, Calif.; Margaret Kennedy of El Dorado Hills; Teresa Learn of Portland, Ore., and Phillip Kennedy of Burlingame, Calif. – as well as eight grandchildren (Matthew, Andrew, Anna, Sara, Benjamin, Allie, Clara, and Walker).

A Funeral Mass – Celebration of Life that will be held at 11am on Wednesday, June 21st at Holy Trinity Church in El Dorado Hills, 3111 Tierra del Dios, with a reception to follow from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Please RSVP for the reception at DrBillReceptionRSVP@gmail.com.

Graveside Burial Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 22nd in Salinas at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 18200 Damian Way with a reception to follow.