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This Fund is in memory of Michael J Kennedy, loving Husband, Father of six, Grandfather of 18, and Great Grandfather of three. Michael was born on September 27th, 1939 in Galesburg, IL. He graduated from Corpus Christi High School in Galesburg, IL in 1957. He attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA where he received a B.A. in History in 1961. He received his MS in Counseling and Guidance from Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL in 1972 and his Administration/Supervision Certificate in graduate studies from Western Illinois University in 2000.

Michael spent his life as an educator and a guidance counselor touching students' lives on a daily basis. Michael was a social studies teacher at Routt High School from 1961 1973. He served as a guidance counselor at BPC High School from 1973-1995 and at Morton East High School from 1995 2009. In his years at Morton East High School, he served as a counselor to high risk students and assisted with counseling and crisis intervention. He touched countless people's lives through his work and was loved by many.

Though Michael's career accomplishments were many and various, his greatest accomplishment was raising six daughters. He was there for all his children through every major life event, and was proud to see them all raise families of their own. Michael also enjoyed numerous hobbies; he loved to read, adored opera and gardening and horticulture, liked camping, fishing, and watching movies, especially his favorites "The Magnificent Seven" and the always classic "Christmas Vacation". More than anything, though, he loved to travel. His favorite country was Italy, which he never forgot even after the impact of years of living with Alzheimer's disease. Michael also loved to laugh, and he never lost his sense of humor.

Please contribute to this fund to help us eliminate the impact of this disease which continues to ravage families. The impact of Alzheimer's disease will escalate rapidly in coming years, as the baby boom generation has begun to reach age 65 and beyond, the age range of greatest risk of Alzheimer's. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple, from 5.2 million to a projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease.