Queens Courier - Star of Queens, Joseph Hennessy

Joseph Hennessy

Community Board 6 Chair

Forest Hills – Rego Park

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Since 1976, Joseph Hennessy has been actively working to improve his neighborhood. In 1976 he began working with the Forest Hills Coop and the Queens Community House and a year later, Hennessy got involved in Community Board 6, which he said he has chaired for “about the last 10 years.”

PERSONAL: Hennessy was born and raised in Ireland. He moved to the United States in 1957. He said he served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961, “in the same outfit that Elvis Presley served in.” He is now the proud father of three daughters: a nurse and social worker; a special education teacher, and a New York City police officer. Hennessy and wife Catherine also have six grandchildren, the first of which was born in Israel almost nine years ago, where a son-in-law played basketball for the Israeli national team.

JOB: After he left the army, Hennessy began working for a medallion taxicab company in 1963. In the years since, he’s risen through the ranks and has been the general manager for the last eight years.

PROUDEST MOMENT: Hennessy said his proudest moment is marrying his wife of 46 years. “I think that’s my greatest accomplishment, that she said ‘yes’ to me.” Hennessy is also proud of the recent honor that the Queens Community House gave him, a lifetime achievement award for his service to the community.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “The biggest challenge that we face is the zoning of areas and protecting the quality of life of Forest Hills and Rego Park,” Hennessy said. He pointed to a new development opening at Junction Boulevard and 62nd Drive as an example. “It’s a major complex taking up a whole square city block,” Hennessy said. “It can cause of a lot of traffic, we’re concerned how that will affect the community.”

FAVORITE MEMORY: “I asked wife to dance the first time I met her,” Hennessy recalled, at a place called the City Center where Irish-Americans went to ballroom dance. “She was attractive, she had red hair, and she knew how to dance. I went that particular night and asked her to dance – and a nice relationship developed from that.”

INSPIRATION: Hennessy said he draws his inspiration from helping people. “I get great satisfaction out of accomplishing something, no matter how large or minor, and helping people is always a great accomplishment. Just the satisfaction of helping people and being involved with them, that’s why I got involved with this whole community here.”

Queens Courier - Star of Queens, Joseph Hennessy