By Deborah Larsen
Martin Jerry Kennedy
Martin Jerry Kennedy was born in Bannister, Michigan, on October 23, 1925, the son of Ernest Dale and Greta McDaid Kennedy. Martin came to Rochester in late 1941, when his father became the superintendent of the Rochester school district. He attended Rochester High School and graduated in the class of 1943.
In May 1943, Martin entered the U.S. Navy. He was trained as a gunner’s mate and stationed aboard the gunnery training ship USS Wyoming. In March 1945, he was transferred to the attack cargo ship USS Mathews, which operated in the Pacific Theater. Martin was released from active duty in March 1946, but returned to duty with the Navy during the Korean War, serving 16 months from May 1951 to September 1952.
After the war, Martin married, started a family, and went into the restaurant business. He relocated to Hawaii and retired as operations manager for Spencecliff Restaurants.
Martin Jerry Kennedy died at age 66 on January 1, 1992, and was laid to rest in the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.