Michael Kennedy, or “Mike” as he was known to close friends and family, was a man of many talents. A father of two sons and owner of a successful asphalt business, Michael was also a connoisseur of wines, and enjoyed making them in his spare time.
“When he was at work, he was all in, and a lot of people only knew that persona,” said Marlene Kennedy, his loving wife. “When he had a chance to decompress and be himself, he was quite funny. He loved history, and he had this passion for the way wine is made, and he enjoyed experimenting.”
One of Michael’s winemaking partners was married to one of Marlene’s friends, and they met over the course of several celebrations and meet-ups. One day in 2016, Michael asked for Marlene’s number, and a first-date happy hour turned into dinner, dessert and a loving relationship. Michael and Marlene were married in 2022.
A Higher Standard of Care at John Theurer Cancer Center
When Michael and Marlene tied the knot, Michael was about three years into his battle with colon cancer. The Kennedys, who made plans to retire early, split their time — and Michael’s treatments — between North Jersey and Florida, as Michael was not a fan of the Garden State’s frigid winters. Marlene noticed a huge difference in how her husband was treated at John Theurer Cancer Center compared to its southern counterpart.
“In Florida, we were an insurance number,” she said. “It's like the doctors came in with a blindfold, and then you just became a statistic.”
Marlene noted that she didn’t want to speak for all health care providers in the Sunshine State, and that there were good people in the system. But the devotion shown by the doctors and nurses at John Theurer warmed their hearts in a way that Florida’s sunshine couldn’t. Michael spent October 2024 in and out of hospitals in Florida, and the Kennedys decided their best chance was in moving back to Paramus full-time and receiving all of his care at John Theurer.
“We received extraordinary care during an incredibly difficult time,” Marlene said. “You have all this tension going in. But everybody calls you by your name like you were a person. You’re waiting for the doctor to come in, and everything's tense, but the way they explained everything — the changes they're seeing, good or bad — it made a difference.”
Michael’s Legacy of Appreciation for John Theurer Nurses and Researchers
The Kennedys moved back to New Jersey full-time in March 2025. Despite some initial improvement, and some good months with Marlene in his home state, Michael passed away on July 16, 2025. In the weeks leading up to his death, Michael adjusted his will to increase the planned gift he had previously arranged to donate to John Theurer.
After Michael’s passing, a generous donation was made to create the “Michael & Marlene Kennedy Endowed Nursing Education Program,” which will provide a permanent source of funding to allow nurses to receive continuing education credits — which are needed for New Jersey nurses to retain their licenses — by doing things like attending research conferences. Friends and family have continued to contribute to the program since its inception.
“Michael’s philanthropic spirit will provide a massive boost for our nurses, helping them remain at the forefront of new developments in health care,” said Dina O’Connor, APN, John Theurer Cancer Center, and Michael’s APN who provided loving care throughout his illness. “We are grateful for Michael’s gift and how much it will mean for our nurses.”
“Donations are an integral part of the hospital’s ability to provide the care and education for their doctors and nurses, and that was a natural fit for us — that we could allow the hospital to continue its mission of exceptional care,” said Marlene.
Michael also arranged for two other generous gifts to John Theurer; one to support the Gastrointestinal Division, and another to support colon cancer research.
“I speak for my husband as well when I say there was no amount of thank-yous that would express the gratitude that we felt for the care he received at Hackensack,” said Marlene. “He wanted to do more, he wanted to make a difference. He wanted everyone else — or someone else — to experience the level of care and comfort that he received from the doctors.”
To support programs like the “Michael & Marlene Kennedy Endowed Nursing Education Program,” or to learn more about how you can make a difference at John Theurer Cancer Center, visit givehmh.org/JTCC.
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