Colleagues plan benefit for Rhett Kennedy

Sometimes the helpers need help.

For most of his life, Rhett Kennedy of Bradford was a helper, a volunteer, a mentor, a coach and a community leader.

He served on Bradford City Council. He was president of the YMCA of the Twin Tiers, the Bradford Rotary Club and The Friendship Table. He coached the girls’ tennis team at Bradford Area High School, his sons’ Bradford Community Soccer team and Bradford Regional Little League teams. He chaired the board of the Area Transportation Authority of North Central Pennsylvania. He taught religious education and served as a lector at St. Bernard Church.

Then, tragedy struck. And now this helper needs help.

Kennedy was diagnosed with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, an extremely rare genetic degenerative brain disorder that causes progressive physical and mental deterioration. There is no cure and no known treatments to slow its progression.

Over the last few years, Kennedy’s illness has progressed, and this spring it was no longer safe for him to be home alone. His wife, Kara, took an unpaid leave of absence from her position at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to provide round-the-clock care, manage his medical needs and support her husband of 29 years.
It’s been a struggle for the family in many ways, including financially.

To help with the Kennedys’ rising medical costs and household expenses, a group of their friends have organized a public benefit.

The Rhett Kennedy Benefit Fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 at the Limestone (N.Y.) Volunteer Firehall. The benefit will include a barbecue lunch, including pulled pork, pulled chicken and sides. Lunch is $15 or by donation. Cash donations will be accepted as well as checks, which can be made out to Rhett and Kara Kennedy, Venmo and PayPal.

Additionally, a bucket auction will be held, featuring more than 30 baskets with donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. 

While some people may never have heard of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker, Kennedy was well aware of the disease long before his diagnosis. Both his mother and brother Ryan died of GSS. The disease typically presents in patients between the ages of 30 and 50, so when Kennedy turned 50, he thought he was safe.

However, in 2020 he started having short-term memory issues. At first, he and his family thought it was stress. He had just been named director of facilities management at Pitt-Bradford, responsible for maintaining all of the physical aspects of campus and supervising the facilities staff.  

Kennedy hoped he might be able to work longer, but he didn’t want to risk making a decision that would put anyone in harm’s way. He stepped down from the position after a year.

It was a decision that saddened Rick Esch, Pitt-Bradford’s president and longtime friend of Kennedy’s, but also one he respected. 

“We all hated to see Rhett leave that position,” Esch said, “but we appreciated the great care and compassion with which he made that difficult decision. 

“Rhett has always shown an exceptional level of professionalism and dedication both as director of facilities management and throughout his entire career at Pitt-Bradford.”

Kennedy, a 1992 Pitt-Bradford graduate, held several leadership roles at his alma mater, including director of residential life and housing, associate dean of student affairs and director of auxiliary services. He also was a Freshman Seminar instructor, advisor for Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity and a member of the Sustainability Committee.

His impact, though, has not only been felt at Pitt-Bradford but also in many other areas of the community. 

For years, Kennedy served as a lector and Eucharistic Minister and taught Sunday School at St. Bernard Church. 

“He was conscientious and faithful and always willing to help at the parish,” said the Rev. Leo Gallina, who served as pastor of his hometown parish for 12 years. “Rhett was always present and willing to help in any way I needed.”

Kennedy served for four years on Bradford City Council, overseeing the Bradford City Fire Department, ambulance services, Board of Health and the Department of Property Maintenance, and was a member and president of the Rotary Club.

Jim Evans, retired vice president and dean of student affairs, worked closely with Kennedy at Pitt-Bradford. They also served together as city councilmen and members of Rotary.

“In Rhett’s capacity as president of the Rotary Club, he made sure that the club focused more on its community service initiatives,” Evans said, “and he provided many suggestions for opportunities for the club to serve the local community. Rotary’s motto, ‘Service Above Self’ was lived every day by Rhett.”

Kennedy also was president of the Board of Directors of the Friendship Table. Joel Meyer, who resumed the president’s role after Kennedy, has organized a Go Fund Me! page to give people an additional way to help the family.

Kennedy and his wife have four sons: Brent and Hugh, Pitt-Bradford graduates, and Rhys and Ward, who are currently attending Pitt-Bradford.