Morgan Hill Lowers City Flags To Honor Former Mayor

MORGAN HILL - Flags will be lowered at city facilities in Morgan Hill starting Wednesday through the end of the week to remember former Mayor Dennis Kennedy.

The city will be lowering the flags at its facilities beginning at 1 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Saturday and is calling on businesses and residents to do the same.

Kennedy, 77, died on March 28 at his Morgan Hill home with his only son by his side after a 10-month battle with brain cancer, city spokeswoman Maureen Tobin said.

He was mayor from 1996 to 2006 and helped shaped the city to what it is today, Tobin said.

"Dennis really had a vision for the community and what the quality of life could be like," she said.

Kennedy helped compile the city's Parks and Recreation Master Plan that led to four new recreational facilities, including the Aquatics Center renamed after him a few months ago, Tobin said.

He also helped build a "robust" Redevelopment Agency to improve blighted areas of the community and contributed to the Downtown Specific Plan, which the city is moving forward with after years of preparation, she said.

Kennedy was a "man of the people," remembered people's names and was "well-loved" by the community, Tobin said.

He served on the City Council for four years before becoming mayor and was previously on the Planning Commission.

Kennedy was also involved with regional agencies as a board member with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

Kennedy's family and friends will be celebrating his life during a 10 a.m. service on Saturday at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church at 17400 Peak Ave. in Morgan Hill.

-Bay City News, image via ShutterStock