Obituary of Richard A. Hennessy

Richard Aloysius Hennessy, Jr., died Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at St Joseph's Hospital. Born in Watervliet, NY on July 31, 1935 and resided in Syracuse since 1962. He was a graduate of LaSalle Institute and Siena College and attended Albany Law School, all of which are in the Albany area. He did not take the traditional path to becoming a lawyer but rather clerked in the Law Offices of John B. LaParo, Esq. and Hon. Leo F. Hayes and was admitted to the Bar in 1969. He was a Claims Adjustor for the Phoenix of Hartford Ins. Co. and Claims Manager and Attorney for the Fidelity & Deposit Co. He was an Asst. District Attorney from 1971 to 1976. In 1976, he was First Deputy County Attorney and later that year was elected Onondaga County District Attorney; and served in that position for three consecutive terms (1977-1987). He then went into private practice. In 1995, he was appointed Syracuse City Court Judge after which he returned to private practice on James Street in Eastwood where he continued working full time until his brief hospitalization. He was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church. A member of the New York State Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association, Ancient Order of the Hibernians and the American Legion. He was President of the New York District Attorney's Association (1983-1984) and President of the Syracuse Claims Association (1967). The joys of his life were his family, especially his three grandchildren; his camp "Tapioca Beach" in Henderson, making wine with the "Grape Nuts Bunch" and "breaking even" at Saratoga Racetrack. He is survived by his wife Christine, daughter Kristen A. Hennessy of Syracuse, 3 sons: Richard "Chip" Hennessy lll of Los Angeles, Daniel M. Hennessy of Columbia, MD & Matthew Hennessy of Saratoga Springs, NY; brother, James Hennessy of Queens, NY; 3 grandchildren Jack, Ella & Mace and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Eleanor (Mace) Hennessy. The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 10:30am in Blessed Sacrament Church with interment to follow in St. Mary's Mausoleum, Dewitt. Calling hours are Monday from 4-7pm in the Blessed Sacrament Church, 3127 James Street, Syracuse. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: LaSalle '53 Fund, c/o LaSalle Institute, 174 Williams Rd, Troy, NY 12180 or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.