University expresses condolences on the passing of UPEI Founder Michael F. Hennessey
Editor’s Note: UPEI Communications was not aware of Mr. Hennessey’s passing until recently. We sincerely regret the oversight.
The University of Prince Edward Island expresses its deep condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues of Michael F. Hennessey (SDU’50), Founder and UPEI’s first Registrar, who passed away on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the age of 98.
Mr. Hennessey was born in Charlottetown in 1926. After attending Queen Square School, he entered Saint Dunstan’s High School, followed by Saint Dunstan’s University (SDU), one of UPEI’s founding institutions. Active in both varsity athletics and the student paper, the Red and White, Mr. Hennessey was a well-known and celebrated student.
While his educational journey was interrupted when he ran the family business, Hennessey Funeral Home, after his father passed away, he eventually returned to his passion for learning, earning his Bachelor of Education from St. Francis Xavier University in 1955. He also served seven years aboard several warships in the Royal Canadian Navy, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
Mr. Hennessey would eventually make his way back to SDU but only after making a mark in several educational endeavours. After training in the United States, Mr. Hennessey launched the first school for the deaf in PEI. After teaching there for several years, he continued his path of learning, training to serve as a guidance counsellor at Birchwood High School.
Mr. Hennessey was appointed Registrar at Saint Dunstan’s University in 1963. He continued in this position when UPEI was formed in 1969, helping to draft the University Act. As Registrar, Mr. Hennessey especially enjoyed advising students on how to chart their own pathways. After serving 25 years in this role, he became the secretary to the Board of Governors for another seven years until he retired. He was recognized as a UPEI Founder for his contributions to the University in 2004.
Mr. Hennessey’s family’s connection to UPEI went beyond his work as Registrar and with the Board of Governors. His wife Aletha (Dolly) worked at UPEI’s library from 1968–1976. In 2009, Mr. and Mrs. Hennessey’s children—Maureen, Frank, Sean, and Patrick Hennessey, and Kathleen Garrett—established two annual scholarships in their honour. One award is given to a mature female student entering third or fourth year in any faculty, who has returned to university full-time, and the other is for a student entering third or fourth year in Arts or Business, based on academic achievement.
In retirement, Mr. Hennessey pursued his passion for writing, which was first sparked at SDU. He published a novel, The Betrayer; two collections of short stories, My Broken Hero and An Arch for the King; and a non-fiction title, Salt in Their Blood. He edited The Catholic Church in PEI: 1720-1979. His poetry and short fiction was published in several Canadian magazines and anthologies. He also had 12 plays produced, ten on stage and two on CBC Radio; wrote for several newspapers; and had many opinion pieces aired on a number of CBC Radio programs. Among other accolades, in 2001 he was the recipient of the PEI Council of the Arts Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Literary Arts on PEI.
His community work included 26 years as chair of the PEI Employment Standards Board, over 20 years delivering Meals on Wheels, 12 years as secretary on the board of the Alcohol and Drug Problems Institute, and 29 years as secretary of the Celtic Heritage Association.
His funeral service was held on December 6, 2024.
