Dr. Sidney G. Kennedy, Sr., 100 of Pensacola, died Tuesday March 29, 2005.  He was born June 28, 1904 in Newark. NJ.  His father was in the railroad business and moved to Lakeland, FL shortly after birth.  Dr. Kennedy attended Florida Southern College and Oxford College of Emory University and then Emory University Medical School where he graduated in 1929.  He completed his residency of post-graduate education at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA.  Sidney came to Pensacola about 1930 at the urging of his sister, Helen (Mrs. W. E.) Gunn, who already lived here.  Starting a private practice at the height of the depression was difficult, but he had the good fortune to  work under the tutorage of Dr. Pierpoint, accepting even food as payment.  In the early 1940's, he enlisted in the Navy and was at Pensacola Naval Hospital and then later in the South Pacific.  He was under fire during the invasion of  Palau and finally was returned to Pensacola and the Naval Hospital with the rank of Commander.  Legend holds that he and several of his friends from First Baptist Church were sitting on the sun porch of his home when the dream of Baptist Hospital was discussed and brought to culmination.  He was credited with admitting the first patient and performing the first surgery at Baptist Hospital.  In addition to serving at the Naval and Baptist Hospital, he was on the staff of Sacred Heart and Escambia Geneal.  He held offices and served on committees at each.  Dr. Kennedy was one of the founders of the Pensacola Blood Bank.  He was a member of the American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons and the Florida Medial Association.  He was active in the Pensacola Rotary Club, serving a term as President and received the Paul Harris award.  He was also a member of First Baptist Church and was a Deacon Emeritus.  Dr. Kennedy retired from medicine in 1986.  For the past several years, he had been a resident of the Haven of Our Lady of Peace.  His sons, Sidney G. Kennedy, III (Susan) and Dr. William E. Kennedy,(Virginia); his daughter, Dr. Eleanor Kennedy-Abel (Dr. Lee Abel); six grandchildren, Dalton Kennedy (Michele), Susan Yonehiro (Layne), Charles and Paul Kennedy and Corine and Warren Abel; and two great-grandchildren survive Dr. Kennedy.  The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2005 at East Hill Baptist Church.  Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery.  Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Friends may visit with the family at East Hill Baptist, prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Dr. S. G. Kennedy Scholarship Fund Baptist Foundation, First Baptist Church of Pensacola or The Haven of Our Lady of  Peace. 

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