Greenup County, Ky. (WSAZ) – On Thursday, students and staff were mourning the passing of Greenup County High School teacher and coach Jamie Kennedy.
The death of Kennedy, a health educator and assistant football coach, was announced Wednesday by Superintendent Tracy Morsi.
Kennedy was 49 years old.
“When I had to say to my team that Jamie Kennedy had passed away, it was deeply saddened,” said Zack Moore, head football coach at Greenup County High. “Although everyone in the room knew it was true, the words hurt because we had to admit what we lost. A friend, coach, teacher, and among the most genuine men any of us knew since a. “
Players on Kennedy’s team, including Tanner Fortsson, said Kennedy was like a father figure and a role model.
“You could call him in the middle of the night at three in the morning and if you needed something, no matter what time it was, he was there to help,” Fortson said.
Superintendent Morrissey told WSAZ that Kennedy had been quarantined since last Friday. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Wednesday.
“He was highly respected by the students,” Morsi said. “More than just a teacher and more than just a coach. Teachers and coaches, they become part of your community. They are people whom others look to for advice. They are the people who put their heart into the work they are doing. He was one of the top notch teachers who did all those things. “
Morsi says that Kennedy’s wife is also an employee at Greenup County High School.
In a letter addressed to the “Greenup County family,” the superintendent said that due to the high number of COVID cases and “recent losses in our GCSD family,” schools will remain closed on Thursday, August 26 and Friday, August 27. These will be non-instructional days. Makeup days will be added at the end of the school year calendar.
According to the superintendent, out of 2700 students in the county, 400 have been quarantined.
Copyright 2021 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
.