Longtime Supporter and Participant in STI/SPFA Pat Kennedy Passes Away

LAKE ZURICH, IL, April 14, 2020 – Pat Kennedy, President of Kennedy Tank & Manufacturing Co., Inc. and longtime Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association (STI/SPFA) supporter passed away April 12 after a courageous battle with COVID-19.

Pat was the 4th-generation president of the three Kennedy family companies: Kennedy Tank & Manufacturing in Indianapolis, Indiana; Southern Tank in Owensboro, Kentucky; and STAFCO in Columbia City, Indiana. At Kennedy Tank he worked alongside his three sons, Bill, Jimmy, and Patrick; his brother-in-law Paul Bolin; and his nephew Kevin Bolin. Under Pat’s leadership, the companies grew dramatically and became nationally recognized in quality fabrication of steel tanks, pressure vessels, and heat exchangers.

Throughout the years, Pat has been involved in STI/SPFA in many capacities. Kennedy Tank was one of the earliest members of the association. From 1995 – 2000, Pat was STI Treasurer and an officer for its Board of Directors. He also served as the STI Finance Committee Chairman, and participated many years on its Finance Committee. Pat gave so much to the steel fabrication industry that he is being inducted into the STI/SPFA Hall of Fame for outstanding service. In addition, Pat was also very involved with STICO Mutual and served on the STICO Mutual Board of Directors for 30 years and served on STICO’s Investment, Risk Management, and Executive Committees. 

With his passion for auto racing, Pat attended 57 consecutive Indianapolis 500 Mile races. Pat purchased and refurbished a vintage IndyCar, the Kennedy Tank Special, that originally competed in the 1948 and 1949 Indianapolis 500s and he often drove it on “Carb Day” at the Speedway.  Pat sponsored race car drivers, and wrote two books on race trivia, “How Much Do You Really Know About the Indianapolis 500?” and “The Official Indy 500 Trivia Book” which were updated yearly with Short Chute Editions. His books were the result of a lifetime of immersive research and experience at the track. Pat was a former director of the 500 Festival Board and current director of the 500 Festival Foundation Board.

Pat was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He was an avid runner and Notre Dame football fan, as well as a member of numerous other organizations.

Our condolences go out to Pat’s wife Cheryl, his children, Maura, Bill, Patrick, Jimmy, and all his grandchildren and family. 

More information on Pat can be found here.