Mr. Hennessy, built landmarks in city

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 25, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Lawrence J. "Kell" Hennessy, a retired general contractor whose family-owned company built St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Museum of Fine Arts, has died at 79.

Mr. Hennessy, a noted sailor who was Mr. Sun for the 1982 Festival of States, died Monday (Oct. 22, 2001) at home in Alachua, near Gainesville, after a long illness.

Lawrence Jeremiah Hennessy was born in St. Petersburg, the son of Aeneas P. Hennessy and the former Madeleine Kelly. His father, a native of County Limerick, Ireland, founded A.P. Hennessy & Sons construction company in St. Petersburg in 1920.

Young Mr. Hennessy attended St. Paul's School and graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1941. He also took classes at St. Petersburg Junior College before going on to the University of Florida to study building construction.

He left UF to join the Army during World War II, serving as a drill instructor in Texas and as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers.

In 1950, he became president of the company, which also worked on the St. Petersburg Times building and St. Anthony's Hospital. It did extensive construction for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

He retired in 1983 when the business was sold. He moved to Alachua about 18 months ago.

Mr. Hennessy was a member of the Suncoasters, which sponsors the annual Festival of States. A yachtsman and navigator, he was commodore of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in 1972.

He took honors in many power boat competitions. In 1970, his 40-foot Ishpa finished second in the American Power Boat Association competition.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Betty; three sons, Timothy, Gibsonton, Michael, Tampa, and Jeremiah, Alachua; two daughters, Sharon Callahan, Gainesville, and Susie Hennessy, Oxford, Md.; a brother, Tom, and a sister, Margaret Allison, both of St. Petersburg; and 11 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 515 Fourth St. S, St. Petersburg.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.

-- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.

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