Scott Emile Kennedy of East Moriches died in Westhampton Beach on September 16. He was 51.
Mr. Kennedy was born in Toronto, Canada, on June 21, 1969. He was an artist, musician, actor, singer, poet, carpenter, husband, son, brother, father and friend.
From East Moriches, Mr. Kennedy graduated from Westhampton Beach High School and studied art at Urban Glass in Brooklyn and Suffolk County Community College in Riverhead.
He was employed as a carpenter with Alternative Construction Solutions in Westhampton Beach.
According to his family, Mr. Kennedy was a prolific artist with a huge heart who cared for so many beings and causes.
As a musician, he sang and played guitar and drums. Having headlined his own band as Rufus Fattback for many years, he entertained with cover tunes and originals performing from New York City to Montauk. As an actor, he was featured in plays and musicals in Riverhead, Quogue and others.
But his soul, his family said, belonged to visual art in the areas of sculpture, painting and sketching. He was a master at utilizing diverse materials to create beautiful pieces admired in personal collections and park installations around the United States, his family said.
Mr. Kennedy’s heart was huge, his family said, and although he loved his wife and their sweet Yorkie, Sallie Sue, as well as his family and friends tremendously, his huge heart was overwhelmed with pain, both emotionally and physically. Sadly, that intense pain overcame him and he took his own life, according to family.
He is survived by his wife Leslie Kennedy; his father Emile Kennedy of East Moriches; his daughter Kara Kennedy of Virginia Beach; his brothers John Kennedy of East Moriches and Dan Kennedy and his sister-in-law Sue Kennedy; and his niece Ava Kennedy and nephew Justin Kennedy of Moriches.
A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, September 24, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a service at 7 p.m. at the Werner-Rothwell Funeral Home, located at 60 Mill Road, Westhampton Beach, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, RSVP Animal Welfare and Rescue Group of Eastport or Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Children’s Arts Academy, would be appreciated by the family.