Former Councilmember John J. Kennedy Remembered on Third Anniversary of His Passing

Monday marks the third anniversary of the death of former Pasadena District 3 Councilmember John J. Kennedy, a longtime civic leader known for his tireless advocacy, commitment to justice, and deep-rooted ties to the community. Kennedy died on July 21, 2022, at the age of 61 after an illness.

“John Kennedy loved Pasadena and the people of Pasadena,” said Mayor Victor Gordo in 2022. “He worked hard every day to make Pasadena a better place for everyone.”

Kennedy was elected to the City Council in 2013 after Assemblymember Chris Holden vacated the seat. Kennedy served on both the Finance and Public Safety committees and was a Pasadena representative to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority.

Among Kennedy’s key policy initiatives was police oversight, which he championed early on—even standing alone at times in support of establishing civilian review. Public sentiment shifted after the murder of George Floyd, increasing support for reforms Kennedy had long promoted.

Community leaders praised Kennedy’s lifelong dedication, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who highlighted his “extraordinary sense of community and family” and his “dedication to public service.”

Kennedy was born and raised in Pasadena. He held leadership roles from an early age, including student body president at Blair High School and student senator at USC, where he earned degrees in International Relations and Economics. He later earned a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law and became the youngest-ever president of the Pasadena branch of the NAACP.

Following his death, a scholarship fund was established at the Pasadena Community Foundation in lieu of flowers. His family requested privacy and announced that further details would be released at a later date.

In June 2022, just weeks before his passing, Kennedy was re-elected to the City Council with nearly 60 percent of the vote, underscoring public confidence in his leadership.