LOWELL, Mass. – The River Hawk family lost a true legend on July 31, as former NCAA Compliance Coordinator Dick Kenney passed away in the early morning after battling coronavirus for several weeks. An alum and a university employee for almost 40 years, Kenney was a beloved member of the UMass Lowell community, and will be remembered for his selfless service and dedication to his school, his students and colleagues.
 
"Dick wore many hats throughout his years of service to the university, but one thing always remained constant and that was how he positively affected the lives of all those around him," said UMass Lowell Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "As a coach, an administrator, confidant and mentor, he showed his love for this institution and it loved him right back. This horrible pandemic has already taken its toll on us all, and this one hits too close to home. Dick's legacy will forever be cherished and he will be deeply missed."
 
A native of Lowell and a 1969 graduate of Lowell Tech, Kenney saw the university through many phases and transitions. From the merger of Lowell Tech and Lowell State that created the University of Lowell, to its adoption into the UMass system, Kenney was there to help shepherd a new generation for UMass Lowell time and time again.
 
Kenney played countless roles for the university throughout his life. His first passion was meteorology, which he would study at Lowell Tech, and although he never pursued it professionally, he would become the go-to weatherman for colleagues and friends.
 
"He never worked at it, but people would always go to him and ask him what the weather would be for the games, and still to this day, he would share his weather reports on Facebook," remembered close friend and colleague, UMass Lowell Athletics Hall of Famer Denise Legault.
 
His first position at the university was in the library, but he would quickly go onto become the coach of the diving team and the compliance officer for the athletics department.
 
"It was a good thing he could play with computers back then, before there was an IT department anywhere, because there was no system anywhere to track student-athletes, and certainly no computer or information linkage between the Registrar's office and athletics," explained UMass Lowell Hall of Fame inductee and friend Claire Chamberlain. "Dick somehow cobbled together a bizarre Rube Goldberg system that could give him the information he needed to ensure that students were making progress. Oh, how we laughed at that."
 
He is also remembered for his roles as a historian, author and precursor to a sports information director.
 
"Dick is one of the few people who saw the athletic program evolve to where we are now," stated UMass Lowell Meteorology Professor Emeritus Bob Gamache, who shared an office with Kenney during his first 10 years as the department's faculty athletic representative. "He lived it every day. He interacted very closely with all the student-athletes and coaches for 40 years, so if you needed a historian, there would be none better. He was really conscientious and just a friendly, special guy. I will miss his friendship."
 
Kenney eventually used all those years of experience and his love of data to pen a book about his alma mater entitled "Lowell Technological Institute 1897-1975: The City, The School, and its Athletics."
 
"He was so very proud of the book he compiled about LTI athletics, right up until the merger with LSC," commented Chamberlain. "Not only did he dig up information, stats and pictures, but he also painted pictures of how the city and the school evolved during the various decades, which was an absolutely monumental task. The Data Hound was up to it and did a grandiose job. Dick was a kind and true friend, as well, perhaps his greatest legacy of all."
 
Kenney, who was known for his quirky personality that was welcoming to so many, happily held many unofficial roles, as well.   
 
"He was my computer guru," added Legault, who also supervised Kenney during his time as a coach. "Anybody else probably could have done it, but Dick was very patient with me and he would always have a story to tell. He would take the time out of his day and wouldn't say 'you should be able to do this yourself,' which kind of sums up the type of guy he was."
 
Some current UMass Lowell staff members also had the opportunity to see Kenney through several lenses, including Head Field Hockey Coach Shannon LeBlanc, who was a student-athlete, a colleague and friend during his tenure. 
 
"I'm so saddened by the passing of Dick Kenney," said LeBlanc. "He was one of the best humans I have had the opportunity to work with at UMass Lowell. He had time for everyone. When you stopped in his office, you would always learn something new about Lowell or UMass Lowell. He was loyal, kind, charismatic, sarcastic, smart and so much more. He was truly a renaissance man. He loved weather, plants, singing, data and other people's pets. He was a storyteller and writer. But most importantly, Dick was such an important and loving friend to so many."
 
Even after retirement in 2009, Kenney would still be seen attending events to support UMass Lowell or in the stands cheering on the River Hawks.
 
"The City of Lowell is Dick," concluded Legault, who after meeting Kenney at the very first athletics banquet following the merger of Lowell Tech and State in 1975, would go onto attend many future athletic banquets with him. "He went to Lowell Tech and he never left. He was very much a people person and the daily interactions brought him so much joy. He was a wonderful friend, who would be there for you and wasn't judgmental. I'll always remember our time together at UMass Lowell, but also so much more outside of it like our birthday lunches, concerts, fireworks and kayaking. I'm so grateful that he was in my life."
 
His contributions to UMass Lowell, River Hawk Nation and all those around him will indeed forever be cherished.