Arthur Kennedy Obituary

Beloved husband, father, friend and lover of animals Arthur Ralph Kennedy, known to most as Art, died at his home in Aiken, South Carolina on Tuesday, August 19th, 2025. He was 89 years old. Born on October 18th, 1935 to Jessie and Arthur Kennedy in Cumberland, Maryland, Art led a full life highlighted by numerous achievements, adventures and relationships. Growing up in Cumberland and later Kansas City, Missouri, Art developed a keen interest in the world around us. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and set four separate hurdling records at his high school. Close friends – and many, many others – will be familiar with the picture Art enjoyed sharing of his youthful athletic prowess. He would later attend college thanks to an athletic scholarship and the G.I. Bill. Art joined the U.S. Navy shortly after high school where he trained as a photographer, a skill which became a lifelong passion. He performed technical photography of rocket and missile tests at White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico, used for both the civil "space race" and national defense applications. He also did a tour in Guam, the staging base for long-range airborne reconnaissance missions in the South Pacific during the rise of Communism worldwide. He would often recount "I have no idea where we went…but I knew they weren't happy to see us!" Art left the Navy in 1958 to continue his education at William Jewel College in Missouri as well as the Universities of Oregon and Washington. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in forestry and communications. Art parlayed these degrees into a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, taking him to Juneau and Anchorage Alaska – the beginning of a deep love for the 49th state. Art designed the first visitor center and blazed the public hiking trails around Portage Glacier near Anchorage. He and his research team were once stranded for several days after surviving the Great Quake of 1964 on frozen Portage Lake. The story was published in a 1965 edition of Alaska Magazine, reprinted in the 2002 book "The Last Frontier", and retold many times over the years. Art was first exposed to public policy while on an assignment with the Forest Service at the Pinchot Institute at Gray Towers National Historic Site, Milford, Pennsylvania. The forester for whom the institute was named is quoted there, urging foresters to "…use persuasion rather than force, when possible…" in the pursuit of natural resource conservation. This would become the hallmark of Art's professional and personal lives as he later insisted that his job was to "tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip." Art transferred from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in the early days of the Nixon administration and was quickly appointed as the special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior with oversight on public messaging. Shortly thereafter, Art was hired by Alaskan Congressman Don Young to be his administrative assistant and chief of staff. During this time he learned the processes and players in Washington, D.C. and Alaska. He decided to run for the U.S. Senate in Alaska in 1980. While Art was defeated in a crowded primary election, his political experience and love for nature would combine to form his next career. Art leveraged his relationships and knowledge to privately represent many of Alaska's Native corporations with elected and appointed officials at all levels of government. He negotiated and secured agreements that enabled the responsible development of natural resources to the benefit of everyone involved while still respecting the land and preserving it for generations to come. Art's frequent trips to D.C. led the staff at his hotel to christen his usual room "The Barney Suite" in honor of his traveling-companion dog. Despite all the travel, Art still found time to become the first 50-gallon blood donor in the state. In the twilight of his third career, Art moved to a farm in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and began focusing more on his favorite hobbies, including antique cars, clock repair, golf and his love for travel. While a "gentleman farmer" on most of the land, he took his garden very seriously. Art was happy to share the bounty of squash, tomatoes and many other vegetables he raised with friends and neighbors across the country. He was particularly proud of his homemade ketchup. It was often delivered in a slightly used bottle with a "57" molded into the glass, but it had a "distinctly different' flavor from its former contents. Art eventually looked south for milder winters, and happened upon the beautiful town of Aiken. Once established in South Carolina, Art stayed active in politics. While nobody would question his party affiliation after viewing his one-of-a-kind elephant collection, Art remained focused on policy and candidates that would do the most good for the most people. Art became a regular at the Cedar Creek Golf Club, founding a weekly "Old Guys' Dogfight" and later the "Cedar Creek Walkers Club." He started a chauffeur service using his Model A and horse-drawn carriages. As one of his desk ornaments said: "This is a non-profit business. It isn't meant to be, but it is." He volunteered at local schools, speaking on conservation, forestry and politics, but he was best known to many local students from his time reading story books to second graders. Art was a man who knew few strangers – sure to leave you with a lasting impression and a smile on your face - likely courtesy of a racy joke. Most importantly, if you needed advice, encouragement or a little help, Art would do what he could to make your life a bit brighter. Art is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his brother, John; his children, Lisa, Carol and Scott; his step-children, Jerod and Bronwyn; 17 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Art was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Jessie; his siblings, Thomas, David, Joann and Donald; and his grandson, Edward Arthur; and many beloved dogs, cats and horses. The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave SW. Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 649-6234 has charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com.