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Martha Morgan Kenny of North Palm Beach, Florida, and Westhampton Beach, died on Monday, October 30, 2017, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 74.
Born January 26, 1943, to Muriel Stafford and Alfred Y. Morgan Jr., in New York, she attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1954 from Newton College of the Sacred Heart, Boston. She was presented to society in 1960 at the Gotham Debutante Ball. She truly cherished her parents, fondly called “Moo” and “Da” by their grandchildren, and always spoke with such adoration about the Stafford and Morgan legacies, which she felt privileged to be continuing.
She and her husband, Kevin, raised their family in Locust Valley, where Ms. Kenny had her fondest memories, summered in Westhampton Beach and later relocated to Florida.
She was generous with her time and actively participated in many philanthropic organizations. For several years she served on the board of Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation in New York. Hoping to make a difference in cancer research, she contributed generously to the Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon–Walter Winchell Foundation. She also worked tirelessly with the Boys and Girls Club of Glen Cove, and the Green Vale School. She and her husband consistently opened their homes and hearts in support of Little Flower Children’s Services in Wading River, and The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Florida. They shared a strong belief in their Catholic faith and education. Together they established the Martha Morgan Kenny and J. Kevin Kenny Scholarship Endowment Fund at Duke University, and endowed funds at Georgetown University to establish scholarships for athletics, the Georgetown University Women’s Golf Scholarship Endowment and the Georgetown University Multi-Sports Facility. They supported Catholic education through the Education Foundation at the Inner City Scholarship Fund of New York to help ensure Catholic schools would continue to provide education for all, and supported the mission of faith at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach. She was a parishioner at Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in North Palm Beach.
A competitive sportswoman, Ms. Kenny was very accomplished in golf, winning two club championships, and enjoyed tennis, skiing and paddle in the winter. She was president of the Women’s Long Island Golf Association. She was an ardent bridge player and always made it her mission to welcome, teach and better those who were new to the game.
Survivors said Ms. Kenny had a marvelous sense of humor, was forever young at heart, and her grandchildren always had the best of times with their “DiDi.” She passionately loved her family, her friends, her precious dogs, and never missed an opportunity to share an “I love you” with all, even down to her final breath.
Ms. Kenny was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, J. Kevin Kenny, on January 15, 2008. She is survived by their children, Eileen Kenny Araskog (William), and Christina C. Kenny; J. Kevin Kenny Jr. (Lauren), James M. Kenny (Lesly), John J. “JJ” Kenny II (Janelle); and grandchildren, Jacqueline and John J. III, and Rand, Christina, Caroline, Jack; and J. Kevin III, Carina and Pierce, and Riley; siblings, Muriel Bodkin and Alfred Y. Morgan III.
A funeral service was held on November 8 at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Arrangements were under the direction of the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home. Burial will be private.
Memorial donations may be made to Ronald McDonald Camp, 3925 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, a place where kids with cancer, and their siblings, can enjoy just being kids, a cause that meant a lot to Ms. Kenny. Donate at philarmh.org/camp/donate-to-rmc.
on Nov 6, 2017