Charles A. Kenny, 81, of Cornwallville

Charles A. Kenny, a decorated NYPD detective, veteran of the U.S. Army, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 81 on Saturday, Sept. 24, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Driney, County Roscommon, Ireland, Aug. 5, 1935, he was the oldest of five children to his parents, Dominic and Margaret.

He emigrated to United States at the age of 19, serving in the United States Army, earning an Honorable Discharge in 1964. He entered the New York City Police Department, working in the 108th Precinct. Held in the highest regard by all he worked alongside, he earned a Gold Shield and became a Detective, a rank he would hold until his retirement in 1982. Always involved in his children’s activities, he was also a youth coach for the Island Trees Little League, the Island Trees Soccer Club, and a volunteer for the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.

After retiring from the police force, he worked in corporate security for Shearson-Lehman Brothers and Travellers in New York. On 9/11, ignoring warnings to stay away from the site of the attacks, he drove into New York City, where he worked tirelessly and selflessly at Ground Zero for three months.

In retirement, he moved to the Irish community of East Durham in upstate New York. He lived out his days in the mountains with his wife, Cathy, regularly taking his grandchildren on fishing trips and lunches with Grandpa. He loved camping and Irish music, but most of all he loved spending time with family, barbecuing and having visitors to his country home.

A devoted husband of 56 years to his wife Catherine, he leaves two children, Susie Gallagher and Brian Kenny, their spouses Brian Gallagher and Nicole Kenny, and eight loving grandchildren: Alexandra, Lucky, Peter, Clare, Camille, Brian, Dylan, Pierce, and grandson-in-law John Daly. He also leaves his sisters, Bridie and Celia, brothers, James and Martin, in-laws Tom Murphy, Michael Fletcher, Pat Fletcher, and Tom and Eileen Fletcher of Hurley.

He is irreplaceable. A one of a kind.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at St. James United Methodist Church, 35 Pearl St., Kingston. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Keyser Funeral Home, Kingston.