Stonehill Professor Emeritus James J. Kenneally dies at 96

By Maddi Achtyl

Professor Emeritus of History James J. Kenneally, whose decades-long career shaped the institution’s academic and historical legacy, died March 11. He was 96.

Kenneally, who began teaching at Stonehill in 1958, spent nearly four decades as a faculty member, playing a prominent role in preserving the College’s history and expanding its academic reach. Known for his commitment to scholarship, service, and community engagement, he remained an influential presence on campus long after his retirement in 1995.

In Stonehill’s announcement posted on March 16, Rev. John Denning, C.S.C., President of Stonehill College, said, “Jim’s passing is a great loss to our community. He and Louise were faithful builders of the College who helped shape Stonehill’s tradition of light and hope, which will inspire and guide generations to come.”

Kenneally’s influence continues to shape Stonehill through the archives he helped build, the Martin Institute for Law and Society, and the ongoing Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee, programs that remain central to the College’s academic and community mission.

Born in South Boston, Kenneally earned a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Boston College and a master’s degree in education from Tufts University. He served in the Air National Guard for three decades. He was called to active duty twice, first as a lieutenant during the Korean War and later as a captain during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 to 1962.

At Stonehill, Kenneally was deeply involved in both academic and campus life. He played a major role in preserving the papers of Joseph W. Martin Jr., a longtime Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. His efforts helped pave the way for the creation of the Martin Institute for Law and Society in 1990, where he later served as director until his retirement.

In addition to overseeing the Martin Institute, Kenneally expanded the College’s archival collections documenting the history of Stonehill and Southeastern Massachusetts.

His impact extended beyond historical scholarship. In January 1992, Kenneally hosted a public forum at the Martin Institute focused on the Holocaust, which led to the creation of Stonehill’s Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee. He chaired the committee in its early years, helping to strengthen interfaith relationships both on campus and in the broader community.

In 2002, the College honored his contributions by naming the James J. Kenneally Lecture on Jewish-Catholic Relations after him. The annual program continues to bring prominent scholars to campus, including Suzanne Brown-Fleming of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

“A beloved member of the Stonehill community, Jim Kenneally will be deeply missed,” said Rev. Kevin Spicer, C.S.C., Dean of the May School of Arts & Sciences and the College’s James J. Kenneally Distinguished Professor of History. “His dedication to preserving Stonehill’s vibrant story and fostering a more compassionate world will remain his timeless contribution to this campus.”

Kenneally is survived by his sons, David and Stephen ’77 Kenneally, and daughter Ann (Kenneally) Puccetti ’80. He was predeceased by his wife, Louise Kenneally, who served as Stonehill’s archivist.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Chapel of Mary on Tuesday, March 17. Following the Mass, burial with military honors was held at Massachusetts National Cemetery.