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New: The Obituary is now up at http://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/hennessy-john-michael
Dear Friends & Family,
With deepest sadness and very heavy hearts, we are writing to tell of the devastating loss of John Michael Hennessy. John, Mike, Michael, big Michael, Hen Hen, Monk, or Toy Boy-- as many knew him, passed away on Wednesday April 22, 2015 leaving behind a long, long list of people whose lives he touched with his amazing kind heart, sense of humor, strong hands, and sweet soul. You could meet him and in 5 minutes be forever touched- he just had that way about him.
His greatest wish was for his final resting place to be at Arlington National Cemetery. His other wish was to have an Irish Wake rather than a traditional memorial service, or funeral. Arlington Cemetery’s time frame for internment is late June to late July. We are planning to have John’s Irish Wake coincide with the ceremony at Arlington. When we have the date we will post it here.
This is the Memorial website where we would love to have you write stories of remembrance and post photos which would help us and others see how much John touched all our lives. It will be a place to check updates on arrangements and ever changing with new stories. He was known for helping all of the people he knew and many people he did not know. We all know he had amazing skills in building or fixing anything, and was always the one to call on first. John had such a gentle soul and he always seemed to attract kids and animals (or critters as John called them) like a magnet. We have always been amazed at his patience in all we asked of him. As we all know John served in the military and had a deep love for the country and servicemen. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
We are moved by the outpouring of support and love for Michael and me, which we know is an extension of your love and friendship of John. There will never be another quite like John and our lives will never be the same. Thank you all for being here for us, your kindness will never be forgotten. Please know how much your posting of stories and remembrance of John will mean to us now and in the years ahead. We will cherish everything written. Even the smallest detail of what you share about him will mean so much to us. To post here you have to register with an email address.. If you would rather not, please send your story and or pictures to email jhennessy49@gmail.com and we will post for you on this memorial page.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made payable to VFW post 2562 - Address is 11316 Fern Street Wheaton MD. 20902 RE: Hennessy Fund, to help us cope with funeral and education expenses.
Love and thanks,
Teri and Michael Hennessy
Tributes
Leave a tributeI thought he was the coolest guy in the world.
I like to think that he's with his dad and my dad on his birthday sharing a pint and watching over us all.
I wore long hair and pierced ear to be just like him.
I loved him very much and I will miss him greatly as I know all of us will.
CHEERS CUZ
Happy Birthday!! I know that you are in heaven having the start to one super birthday. May you look down and see all those who love and remember you. You left such a wonderful impression on us. You are gone but never forgotten. You touched so many lives. Today I want to say on your special day what an honor it was to know you. May you have one great celebration today. A toast to you on your 66th!! Birthday hugs!!
I absolutely do not know what to say. I have been crying for days. I remember john was the only man ever nice and respectful to me. I remember him telling me about cars, the animals, and how to be true to yourself.
Dr. Dy Wolpert
The Carpenter's
We just heard about John. We're so sorry for your loss. John was a wonderful man and we always think of him smiling. John will make sure John's 10 speed bike gets some regular rides in his memory and spirit. Our prayers and love are with you two right now.
Julie & John Kinnaman
My first memories of Mike are from when we would hang out at his house on Forest Glen Rd after school – Montgomery Hills Junior high school. We’d make fun of his sisters’ boyfriends and smoked cigarettes and for some reason we usually ended up wrestling over something. I always lost, of course…. And there was hanging out at Sam’s and Bobby’s with Pat and Scott and Mike and JC and Rosemary (Roe da hoe, haha)…. And Jimmy Aker… It was a close group of friends and we have all remained so for over 50 years….
He and I drove to California together in the summer of ’68. We landed eventually in Long Beach and worked in restaurants to support a fledgling surfer habit. When we returned in the fall, all of our other buddies were joining the Marines. We didn’t though….
Many years later we lived together in Columbia with Sam and Theresa and others who rotated through as roommates for varying periods of time. Mike took over the small work shed as a garage for his Triumph motorcycle. He worked on it incessantly and if he wasn’t working on it, he was cleaning it. There was lots of Budweiser involved... Those were good times…
But marrying Teri and raising Michael were the 2 things that made him complete. He loved them more than life itself, and I’m sure they know it. His life revolved around Teri and Michael. As we all know, and anyone who ever met him would know, Mike was a generous, loving and caring man. But above all, he was a family man. And his mom and dad, his brother Tommy and his sisters Sharon and Francis were also never far from his thoughts or his heart.
He was the big brother, the protector, the provider, the close friend, the patriot, the little kid at heart who liked his toys, and always, always the guy who you wanted to have as your best friend.
He went to Arlington every year to visit his dad and pay his respects. I couldn’t be happier than to know that Mike will be there now, too. I will do what I can to go visit every year, just as he did, and pay my respects and remember the big guy with the big heart…
I’ll always remember, miss, and love ya man…
Dear Teri and Michael
Debbi and I extend our sincerest condolences for the loss of your much loved husband and father. Unfortunately we met him only a few month ago during our short visit but for me at least there was an immediate connection. His easy, friendly nature and enthusiasm for life were evident. His loss will be felt by many, but his memory will also sustain many. He loved family, friends and country. What else needs to be said.
Love, John and Debbi
Reading the tributes to John confirmed what I feel was one of his best qualities,...his generosity. For example, several years ago Teri was helping me plan my husbands retirement party (from the fire service) when John appeared with many of his prized fire trucks and insisted I use them as decorations at the party. As many have stated, he was always willing to help. My prayers to Teri and Michael.
We are so shocked to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your loved ones. Take care and hope to see you around town.
The Harman Family (Nicola, Richard, Isabel and Alicia)
There will be sad days ahead, of course, but I KNOW that you and Michael will thrive. You are both smart, scrappy people and the love you have for each other will be made stronger for your loss. And John will be smiling down on both of you on your journey until you all meet again one day.
Much love and peace to you,
Jenny, Ernie, Sammy and Vicki
Thinking of you and hoping that you and Michael will find peace in your loss. John was a great guy.... (hugs cousin)
Deb
I still have my "emerald ring".
My love and prayers for you and your Son.
We are deeply saddened by John's passing.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
We can only hope Harleys are allowed in Heaven, so one day we can all ride together again.
John and I shared two loves Teri and Corvettes
I did not know John very well ,but I knew you all loved each other. That was enough for me.
So sorry for your lost, Uncle John
With deep sadness, pain and many wonderful memories in mind accept my condolences, my thoughts and prayers go to the Hennessy family.
John and I had a long friendship, spent many years working together, he was my boss but also he was a friend and a brother, he always looked out for me, he liked to start conversations, he would walk to my truck with small interesting objects in his hands and just give them to me, I still dearly keep each one of those things in his memory, he had appreciation for big and the smallest things, in several opportunities we enjoyed riding our bikes together and he loved motorcycles as I do.
The moments, days, months and years spent next to John made working together as working next to a family member, someone who had great feelings and a kind way to share his moments with others.
I could spend hours and days remembering and writing all the great memories working together, John was a fantastic person, will always remember him very dearly, God Bless the Hennessy family.
I was shocked and saddened to hear of John's sudden passing. I have warm memories of talking to him in the neighborhood. He was always kind and friendly. I remember him showing us what treats the donkeys enjoyed. Of course we always talked about our dogs. I'm so sorry for your loss and he will be missed in our neighborhood.
I so looked up to my cousin Michael as the Clan McClellan referred to him. Big,strong and dashingly handsome with long and an earing so of course I had to have long hair and an earing. I wanted to be just like him.
He will be greatly missed.
My deepest condolences to Terry and Michael.
Leave a Tribute
You're never far from my thoughts Michael. And you WILL be forever missed...
Love ya man
Andy
Please be patient.
"Always wear gloves when you ride"
Always wear gloves, if you ride and it happens, your skin on your hands just roll back.
Just about every time I get on my bike and pit my gloves on. Always remember his great advise and the friendly smile on him.
I always wear my gloves and yes, deer skin gloves to protect mine.
John, a great person, a great friend, someone you could spend quality times with and always have a progressive and productive conversation.
John loved his wife Terry and he was fascinated by watching little Michael grow up and to share his very own good experiences in life with him, little Michael was his shadow.
You are always in our minds John!
It's hard to imagine that it's been a year. I met mike in October of 1963. He was the best man at my wedding . We traveled to Europe together. Great trip to Florida too. We went to cape Hatteras back in the late 1970's. He was a great friend who would do anything to help our someone in need. We would talk 5 or 6 times a year. Catch up on our kids. Wow, Michaels graduation is this year. Same as my grandson. Yes was a good man, devoted husband and father. He was taken way to soon.
John was what you see is what you get and Sean, Devin and I loved him. Although we spent more time with him years ago when the kids were smaller, he was always thought of as part of our "Damascus" family and it was devastating to hear of his passing. John was a "one of" easy to talk to, amazing with the kids and we have years of fond memories of the annual Halloween party and trick or treating at our house with the crew of boys at Damascus elementary school. Devin spent a lot of time with John and Michael and they were always into something, Sean and I remembered when Devin crashed John's go cart through his garage and John was the calmest of all insisting it was no big deal and wouldn't think of letting us help with paying for any of it. Sean and I rode motorcycles with John and Teri to the wall and visited Arlington cemetary and John's patriotism was admirable. He lived every minute like he had all the time in the world, so many hobbies interests and so much love for his friends and family. There aren't a lot of true blue people out there anymore but John was and I know whether in touch or not, if we ever needed him he would be there. A light went out with John's passing but he lives on in his son and someday I know we will all meet again....