b. 12 September 1916, Kemptville, Ontario
d. 28 July 1999, [Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]
John Edward Kennedy earned a BA (Math and Physics) from Queen's University in 1937 and continued with postgraduate work at McGill, earning an MSc in Physics in 1942. From 1941-1945 he worked for the National Research Council, and in 1945 accepted an appointment with the Physics Department at the University of New Brunswick. While at UNB, Prof. Kennedy researched the work and teachings of William Brydone Jack and was heavily involved in the refurbishment of UNB's Observatory. It was this research that led to his life-long passion and study of 19th century astronomy in Canada and elsewhere. In 1956 Kennedy joined the Defence Research Medical Laboratory in Toronto, and in 1965 he left to take a position with the University of Saskatchewan. He served both as Assistant Head, Department of Physics, and from 1967-1981, as Assistant Dean, Arts and Sciences. Upon his retirement from the University of Saskatchewan in 1984 he was named Professor Emeritus.
J.E. Kennedy was a long-time member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada serving the society in various capacities over the years. He held the office of Secretary in 1958 and National President from 1968-1970 and was honoured with a Lifetime Service Award, the first ever presented, in 1998. In 1974 Prof. Kennedy was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He became a charter member of the newly created Canadian Astromonical Society in 1971 and served as the Chair of its Heritage Committee from 1980-1982.
He published a great many scientific and historical papers, the last appearing in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage in 1999, the year of his death.
Reference: "Obituaries. John Edward Kennedy 1916-1999."Astronomy & Geophysics 41, 2 (Apr 2000): 2.36.