Laura Kennedy

Laura N. H. Kennedy

1932 – 2024

Laura N. H. Kennedy, of Ewing, NJ, died December 6, 2024, at the age of 92. Born August 2, 1932, in Hackensack, NJ, Laura grew up in Binghamton, NY, where she graduated from Binghamton Central High School in 1950 as Salutatorian. She returned to New Jersey in 2015.

Laura earned a B.A. in music from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and an M.A. in piano from the Juilliard School of Music. She pursued doctoral studies (ABD) in musicology at Indiana University, where her assistantship was with the renowned Willi Apel. IU was also where, as she crossed the street at a red light in September 1959, a former Manhattan acquaintance named Philip recognized her from his car and called her name. They were engaged a few months later, on New Year’s Eve.

Laura’s music career ranged far and wide. Performances included concertos by Mozart, Schumann, Beethoven, and Gershwin (notably, Rhapsody In Blue with Binghamton’s B.C. Pops, of which she was a member through its history. Accompaniment of instrumentalists and vocalists included serving, at age 17, as the first accompanist for Binghamton’s then nascent Tri-Cities Opera, of which her mother Margaret was a founding board member. She mentored hundreds of private piano students of all ages over her lifetime. She enjoyed many years as a college instructor, including at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, and Broome Community College, Binghamton, from which “Mrs. K” retired in 2013 as a piano instructor and student chorus accompanist. As an organist and choir director, she worked in Chapel Hill, NC, Staten Island, NY, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Binghamton, and All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Johnson City, NY, where she served for many devoted years until her retirement in 2014. She was a member of the Central NY Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, a one-time chair of the Tri-Cities Opera Guild, a member of the Harmony Club, and a proud member of the Rotary Club of Binghamton.

Laura celebrated life generously, sharing her humor and vast knowledge to such a degree that she was considered the family’s human Google search. Making people feel welcome and special included beautifully prepared and presented meals and gatherings. She delighted in the arts and history, travel and nature, her students and choirs, and her family and friends. She relished every moment with her children and grandchildren, from playing board games, to baking Danish Christmas cookies, to traveling near and far together, to attending their plays and concerts, athletic events, graduations, and life events.

Devoted daughter of the late Margaret (Riis) and Roy Hasenpflug and sister of the late Tom Hasenpflug, Laura was pre-deceased by former husband Philip and is survived by daughter Sarah Unger (Michael), Ewing, NJ; son Franklin Kennedy (Jim Zuckerman), Augusta, GA; grandchildren Andrew Unger (Sarah Adams), Lawrence Twp., NJ, Christopher Unger (Kayla Johnson), Hamilton Twp., NJ, Caroline Unger (Parker Austad), Denver, CO; sister-in-law Marie Hasenpflug, Poughkeepsie, NY; brother-in-law George Daly, Athens, GA; nephews Thom Hasenpflug (Nicole), Pocatello, ID, Andrew Hasenpflug, Pittsburgh, PA, and Newell Daly (Meredith), Mooresville, NC; niece Anna Daly (Bill Bachrodt), Boca Raton, FL; great-nieces and great-nephews Emma Gray, Mary, Sarah, Jude, and Hunter; cousins Ted Riis, Moriarty, NM, and Doug Riis, Weston, MA; special friends Dick, Dubbie, and Ruth.

The family is grateful to the staff at Greenwood House for the wonderful care and comfort provided for Laura’s final months. Arrangements are under the care of Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. Memorial service plans will be shared at a later date. Thoughts and remembrances may be left at www.OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Laura-Kennedy. Memorial gifts are respectfully requested to Greenwood House, Ewing, NJ, or to Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton, NY.