The late John W. Kennedy Jr. – “Jack” to his friends – and wife, Joanne, were major contributors to the development of youth hockey in Rhode Island for more than half a century.
Jack was a standout at East Providence High School before a Hall of Fame hockey career at Norwich University where he was 3-time D3 All-East selection and served as team captain as a senior. In tribute to his outstanding play and later philanthropy, a bronze statue of John now proudly greets fans at the university’s Arena.
After college, Jack served two years as a military officer, after which he continued to play on top amateur teams such as the Eastern Olympics with some of the top players of the era. Back in East Providence, he and Joanne began a legacy of volunteerism and generosity. John donated his time as a youth hockey coach stressing fundamentals and having fun. He also served as a volunteer assistant at East Providence High where they annually present the John W. Kennedy Jr. Award to the Outstanding Senior Player.
Jack served as President of the East Providence Hockey Association, the Greater Providence Youth Hockey Association and the RI Amateur Hockey Association, each benefiting from his fundraising skills and personal financial support.
Shortly after his passing in 1988, Joanne, who sadly passed last year, continued Jack’s vision and philanthropy by continuing the tradition of the Fram International Hockey Tournament her husband championed when she organized the John W. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Hockey Tournament to honor her husband’s legacy.
Through 2018, the annual Kennedy Tournament, which also honored their late son, John III, was the longest running such tournament on the east coast. It hosted hundreds of teams and thousands of players from all over North America with games played in rinks throughout the region, including the RI Sports Center in North Smithfield, whose rink bears Jack’s name.
Proceeds from the tournament benefitted the growth of the game in Rhode Island with the Kennedy Foundation granting scholarships to individual players and donations to numerous high school, non-profit, and special needs programs and local rinks each year.
For this and all they did to grow the game we love in the best and most generous way, we honor Jack & Joanne with the Malcolm Greene Chace Trophy for their “Lifetime of contribution to hockey in Rhode Island.”
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