Don Kennedy (athlete)
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Donald M. Kennedy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | November 4, 1932 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | October 16, 2014 (aged 81) Hampton Bays, New York, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Queens College, City University of New York Brooklyn Law School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Cecilia Galgan (m. 1958) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para-athletics Weightlifting Wheelchair basketball | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Donald M. Kennedy (November 4, 1932 – October 16, 2014), also known as John Kennedy,[2] was an American paralympic athlete, weightlifter and wheelchair basketball player. He competed at the 1960 and 1964 Summer Paralympics.[3][4]
Life and career
Kennedy was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of James Kennedy and Mary Frances McCarthy. At an early age, he was hospitalized with polio, which left his legs paralyzed. During his years in hospitalization, he was educated by Dominican nuns, which after his release from hospitalization, he attended and graduated from Newtown High School. After graduating, he attended Queens College, City University of New York and Brooklyn Law School.[5]
Kennedy competed at the 1960 Summer Paralympics,[6][7] winning the gold medal in the men's wheelchair basketball tournament A event.[3] He then competed at the 1964 Summer Paralympics, winning three bronze medals and two silver medals in athletics and weightlifting.[4]
Death
Kennedy died on October 16, 2014, at his home in Hampton Bays, New York, at the age of 81.[5][8]
References
- ^ "Donald Kennedy". New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018. Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Ancestry.com. (subscription required)
- ^ "U.S. Cagers Are Class Of Paralympics". St. Petersburg Times. September 20, 1960. p. 20. Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Google News.
- ^ a b "Rome 1960 Paralympic Games Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Star Staff (October 23, 2014). "Donald M. Kennedy". The East Hampton Star. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Sends Team To 'Paralympics'". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. September 4, 1960. p. 20. Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wheelchair Athletes to Take Over at Rome in Paralympics". The Oneonta Star. Oneonta, New York. September 8, 1960. p. 15. Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Donald Kennedy Obituary (1932-2014)". The New York Times. October 18, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2025 – via Legacy.com.