James Kenny

James Kenny, an educator, author, clinical psychologist, children and family advocate, noted storyteller, father of 12, and longtime resident of Rensselaer, IN., died peacefully in his sleep on February 3, in Indianapolis, with his wife of 69 years, Mary, and three of their children by his side. He was 92 years old. James Andrew Kenny was born on October 12, 1933, in Chicago, the first of three children born to James Valentine Kenny and Anne (Filz) Kenny. A brother, John, arrived next, followed by a sister, Mary Ann. He married Mary Jane Nelsen on January 26, 1957. “I married him because I thought he was smart, funny, and that life would never be boring,” she would later say. Although his professional life began in Chicago and included stops in Florida, Germany, Bloomington, IN., and Indianapolis, and in his personal life, he visited dozens of countries around the world, Rensselaer was considered home. In his 2017 memoir, I’m a Lucky Guy, he explained, “Once we decided to leave the military, we began to think that a small Midwestern town would be the ideal place to raise a large family.” He received offers in Iowa and Illinois, but selected St. Joseph’s because he liked the town of Rensselaer, it was closer to Chicago, but mostly, he often joked, “because the Bears held training camp there in the summer.” He was a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, having gone to games at Soldier Field since he was 10 years old, and his best friend’s father was the team physician. Two weeks before he passed, he watched from his bed as the Bears beat the Packers in the playoffs, with his son Mike by his side. In Kenny’s professional life, he had many job titles over a long career—social worker, professor, psychologist, therapist, author, researcher, foster parent, swim coach, expert witness, columnist, public speaker—and each one played a role in shaping his one true career, as an advocate for families and children. He also had an extensive writing career. For more than 20 years, he co-wrote, with Mary, a weekly column called “Family Talk” for the Catholic News Service. He authored or co- authored dozens of magazine articles and published six books, the most popular being Caring for Your Aging Parent and Whole Life Parenting. Jim and Mary left Rensselaer in late 2005 and moved into an apartment along the canals in downtown Indianapolis, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. While there, he continued as an advocate, co-writing legislation that led to an Open Adoption Law in the State of Indiana, as well as consulting on dozens and dozens of cases involving foster children and families. While his professional interests and commitments were many, his children will remember him as the dad who had summers and holidays off, the little league manager and coach of the summer swim team. The dad who took them on vacations in the school bus, setting up camp at Turkey Run, Raccoon Lake or Brown County State Park. The dad who read them stories, gave them books to read, and taught them to drive. Dad, the storyteller, who secretly wanted to be a comedian. A master of the ghost story around a campfire, from Old Man Jacobs, who lived at the bottom of Lake Lincoln, to the Giant Turtle in the Pond, who lived in the front yard of Pondview. They’ll remember the dad who taught them to be kind, the dad who was always there. James A. Kenny is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Joe (Kim) Kenny of Greenwood IN, Kit (Julia) Kenny of Baton Rouge LA, Chaz Kenny of Bloomington, IN, Mike (Brenda) Kenny of Indianapolis IN, John Paul (Gretchen) Kenny of Bloomington, IN, Tom Kenny of Oakland CA, Pete Kenny of Indianapolis IN, Annie (Rick) Mulcahy of Bloomington, IN, Bitta (Scot) DeWees of Bloomington, IN, Bob (Diane) Kenny of Richmond, IN, Sharon Kenny of Napa Valley, CA, Matt Kenny of South Bend, IN; 30 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and his sister Mary Ann Kenny. A Celebration of Life is being planned on Saturday, June 13, 2026. It will be held at Primo Conference Center in Indianapolis from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Address: 2615 National Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227

James Kenny

October 12, 1933 - February 3, 2026