On Thursday, June 15, 2023, Kennedy Trainor of New Haven, CT tragically passed away during a routine appointment for allergy injections. An autopsy report is pending and there is an open investigation into her untimely death. She was just 23 years old.
On October 28,1999 Marlo Kennedy Trainor was born and resided in Greenwich, CT. The cherished daughter of Lestina (Cobb) Trainor and James “JT” Trainor, she preferred using her middle name, Kennedy, to her often mispronounced and misgendered first name, Marlo. In his thick New England accent, her adoring, late uncle Steve Trainor would regularly tease her: “But you’re not a real Kennedy!”
Kennedy loved all creatures in nature, and they loved her back. No spider was too big, no worm too slimy, no bee too intimidating for her to hold in her hand and lovingly observe. When the family moved to an historic farmhouse in Redding, CT when Kennedy was two years old, she loved helping to care for their two dozen chickens and their sister-goats, Betty & Blanca. Other family pets included multiple cats—her favorite orange tabby, Sir—a couple of guinea pigs, several hamsters, and her beloved dog Mac, 16, whom she has sadly pre-deceased.
Kennedy was extremely close to her two younger brothers, Miles, 22, and Deegan, 16 —she loved them with a vengeance. She was the absolute voice of reason, financial advisor, fact checker, empathetic listener and wise friend that they could always depend on. She was a social justice advocate, a politically outspoken person, and made sure her brothers never fell for any right-wing conspiracy theories or other problematic propaganda. She was hilariously funny with an amazing sense of humor. She had a contagious laugh and smile that could light up the room.
Kennedy was an avid reader and consumed stacks of novels and volumes of scientific studies on animals, plants and space, which was another passion of hers. She was an excellent student and attended primary school at Ridgefield Academy in Ridgefield, CT, graduated with a 4.0 from Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, CA, and was a sophomore at University of San Francisco when, during the pandemic, she decided to move back to Connecticut to work full time.
After returning to Connecticut, she met her beloved partner Samantha Marks, with whom she spent the last three years with, sampling new local vegetarian restaurants, taking weekend adventures and planning for a future together. Kennedy made her home in Westville section of New Haven and absolutely loved it. She adopted a long rejected, sassy 8-year-old cat named “Miles” and declared him to be her biological son. It was for Miles (the cat), and her partner’s dog, “Jackson”, that Kennedy was taking bi-weekly allergy shots.
Kennedy was a storyteller and an activist for causes she believed in. She amassed over a quarter million followers on TikTok, thousands of whom regularly interacted with her and each other on every post. She had a number of brand deals and was on her way to becoming a full-time content creator, she was the center of an online community, and she will be missed by many whom she touched, but who never met her in person.
She is survived by her mother and father, Lestina and JT, her brothers Miles and Deegan, her paternal grandfather Daniel Trainor, her maternal grandmother Constance Cobb, her devoted partner Samantha Marks, her favorite cat and “biological son” Miles, and her childhood sweet angel dog, Mac.
Kennedy was predeceased by her beloved paternal grandmother, her Obachan Hiroko Trainor, and her maternal Grandfather Lester Cobb, Jr, with whom she will be interred in her final resting place.
Kennedy was admired for her beauty and dearly loved by her friends and family.
A funeral service will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Burial will follow at Hull Cemetery; 418 Redding Road, Redding. Family and friends may gather at Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield on Saturday, June 24 beginning at 10:30 AM.
Please consider a donation in Kennedy's memory to Cat Tales Rescue - PO Box 901; Middletown, CT 06457, http://www.cattalesct.org/donate.