Michael Kennedy

Michael Richard Kennedy of Hull, MA is a very special person. Not only is he a Special   Olympic Massachusetts (SOMA) athlete but he has overcome tremendous odds to be where he is today. Mike was born in 1977 and weighed only 4 lb and 4 oz making him too weak to be transferred to Boston’s top notch hospitals, and giving him a very small chance to live out the day. No one told this prediction to Mike however so he kept on fighting. He suffered much at birth, it took over 10 operations to get his eyes to look in the same direction, and move together. He also has a defect that resulted in only 75% of his brain cell strength.

Today he is 32 years old and still going. He can read and write, count and keeps a tight Bowling score sheet. His vision is limited and he can only focus on a moving object at about 6 to 8 feet away. Despite these obstacles, Mike has been able to participate in many Special Olympic sports.

Mike is a SOMA softball pitcher for the Scituate Mariners. His softball coach Taffy Nothnagle had this to say about Mike: “Michael is the ultimate team player. As our starting pitcher, we can always count on him to do his best, and that best is extremely skilled. Michael always has a smile and a greeting for everyone and nothing you ask of him is too much.” His reaction to the batted or thrown softball is truly amazing.

 Mike also plays basketball, volleyball, and soccer with Cardinal Cushing Adult Sports. His basketball coach Margaret Lelakes also had wonderful things to say about Mike: “Michael is a wonderful young man.  Off the court he is quiet and reserved, but once on the court he seems to blossom to a confident and helpful team player.  He is always willing to help out his teammates. He is an asset to the team.” He also participates in bowling with the Scituate program, in Cohasset. This year he is looking forward to learning to golf.

    In addition to his participation in Special Olympics, Mike works for Shaw's Supermarket three days a week and has almost never missed a day of work in the 10 + years he has worked there. Also for the past 17 years, he has spent his Mondays as a volunteer at the South Shore Hospital in the supply department delivering goods to every department in house.