John “Jay” Kenney, MA '79, MSW '81, Ph.D '85, Montgomery County, Maryland’s first Chief of Aging and Disability Services, passed away on September 22, 2022, after a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is survived by his wife Nancie, son Aidan, daughter Brigit, brother Todd, and countless friends and extended family. A scholarship has been established in his honor to benefit master’s level social work students who have an interest in the field of aging and disability services and to link these students to nationally recognized field education programs in the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Kenney developed groundbreaking programs and left a legacy of outstanding award-winning, innovative, accessible, and integrated programs and policies for older adults and individuals with disabilities during his thirty-year career with the Montgomery County government. The work of his department and team was pivotal in Montgomery County’s acceptance as both an Age-Friendly and Dementia Friendly County by the World Health Organization and AARP. The strong emphasis on inclusion enabled the Adult Protective Services Program to expand its service with Emergency Medical Services/Fire Rescue Service into a nationally recognized Mobile Integrated Healthcare program. “Jay was one of the brightest lights we have ever had in MoCo. His leadership/public service have been an inspiration,” tweeted Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz. Under Dr. Kenney’s leadership, his department won numerous national, state, and local awards. After his retirement from County service in 2018, he became Chief Operating Officer for Jewish Social Services Agency in Rockville, MD. He greatly enjoyed his work with this organization until the symptoms of his ALS diagnosis made it difficult to continue working.
An avid athlete, Dr. Kenney attended college on a gymnastics scholarship, graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in 1972. After college, he was drafted to serve in the Army during the Vietnam War era. During his time serving in Fort Rucker, Alabama, Dr. Kenney formed important friendships with members of the Sisters of St. Benedict, who inspired him to consider a religious life in the Catholic priesthood. In 1975, he entered the Missionary Society of St. Paul's Novitiate. He completed his studies over three years, but before taking his final vows, decided that a life of service outside of the Church was more his calling.
Dr. Kenney completed his MA in Theology (1979), his MSW in Adult Mental Health (1981), and his Ph.D. in Social Work/Health Policy & Research (1985) at The Catholic University of America. He was elected as a National Association of Social Work Pioneer, one of the profession’s highest honors, in 2021. The Jay Kenney Memorial Scholarship in Aging and Disability will serve as a legacy to Dr. Kenney’s illustrious social work achievements in policy, program development, and social work administration. To contribute to the scholarship in his memory, please donate to this link or contact Maryagnes Trainor, trainorma@cua.edu.