FAYETTEVILLE — Jon Kennedy was a man who threw himself into whatever passion was before him in life, and his ebullient presence affected nearly everyone around him.
Kennedy, who died Friday while kayaking a section of the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colo., is remembered by friends and family as a man who brought a sincere enthusiasm to both his own interests and the interests of those he cared about.
“He just wanted to live life very intentionally, and he did, every single day,” said Jennifer Ann Fuson, Kennedy’s wife of 12 years.
After completing an undergraduate degree in philosophy at the University of Central Arkansas, Kennedy pursued a graduate degree in the subject at Stony Brook University in New York before deciding to leave academia.
“He decided he would be happier doing work outside of academics,” Fuson said. “Something more tangible with everyday folks.”
In 2006, Kennedy began working as a systems analyst with Community Clinic, a series of health clinics in Washington and Benton counties, implementing the clinic’s electronic management system and training other employees in its use, said Kathy Grisham, the clinic’s executive director.
“But mainly, Jon was an enthusiastic supporter of our mission, helping people who didn’t have anywhere to turn for health care,” Grisham said.
Around 2008, Kennedy began pursuing an interest in kayaking the rivers of Arkansas. Over the course of about five years, he grew from novice to a well-known and beloved member of the Arkansas paddling community, achieving a certification as a Level 4 Whitewater kayaking instructor through the American Canoe Association. He was also certified in emergency CPR, wilderness first aid and swift water rescue techniques.
“That community was a place where Jon could be Jon,” said Cristie Ginther, Kennedy’s mother.
In August 2013, Kennedy was elected Vice President of the Arkansas Canoe Club’s Northwest chapter. Kristian Underwood, chapter president, said he was amazed at how skilled Kennedy had become after such a short time in the water.
“He was twice the paddler I am, and I’ve probably been doing it twice as long.”
Tom Burroughs, director of Ozark Safety and Rescue Educators and a close friend to Kennedy over the past five years, said kayaking triggered a transformation in Kennedy.
“It was a new world to him. It was something that was wild and dynamic, and in many ways, I think fulfilled that need for adventure that was latent within him,” Burroughs said. “As he began to explore more and more of our natural world, it just unleashed and opened him in a way he had probably never been opened before.”
Kennedy is survived by his parents, seven siblings, his wife and two sons.
A memorial service will be held from 2-4 p.m. Friday at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.