Posted on by Shaun Richman

Dan Hennessey Has Died

I was at a Save the Plaza rally when I heard the grim news that one of my former co-workers, Dan Hennessey, had died on Sunday morning. He was hit by a car near his home in Woodside. Apparently it was all over the news. The Daily News headlined the story, “Queens Grandpa Killed by Driver Fleeing Police.”

The driver was some jerk who was pulled over by a cop for talking on his cellphone while driving his obnoxious sports car. Rather than deal with a ticket, he sped away and killed an innocent old man.

Dan was 76 years old. He wasn’t in the best health, and he had left the job last spring in order to care for his wife, who was also ill. His wife, Margaret, survived him. “He was a good husband,” she said to the News. “He was just ready to enjoy life.”

Dan worked as a banquet bartender at the Palace hotel for many years. He served the union as the Shop Chairman in the hotel, the top shop steward with significant power to negotiate with management. After he retired from the hotel, the union asked him to join the staff in a part-time capacity. He was the “Officer of the Day,” the Business Agent who stayed in the office to deal with members who walked in with grievances and no appointment.

He was a colorful character in the office, well-liked and loud (louder than Alan Amalgamated!). He could be gruff with the members, but it came from working in the industry for so many years and having no tolerance for bullshit. Those of us who were kids hired by the union from outside the rank and file were counseled to take every member’s grievances seriously and to diligently investigate every crazy claim, while Dan could be heard throughout the hallways shouting, “YOU CAN’T DO THAT, MA’AM!” I can picture him right now, yelling that on the phone, his short sleeve shirt exposing his old school anchor tattoo from his days in the Navy. No one who worked with him will ever forget him.

5 Replies to “Dan Hennessey Has Died”

  2. Driver Wanted In Fatal Queens Hit-And-Run Surrenders To Police
    MARCH 14TH, 2005

    The driver wanted in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 76-year-old Queens man this weekend was arrested after he turned himself in to authorities Monday.

    Royce Quigua, 30, was wanted for questioning in connection with the hit-and-run incident that took the life of Donald Hennessey Sunday morning at the intersection of 56th Street and 31st Avenue in Woodside. Police say Hennessey was returning home from a bagel store when he was hit by a red 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse with Pennsylvania license plates.

    Police say Quigua told them today he was behind the wheel of the car that struck Hennesey.

    Quigua had been pulled over by police before the accident for talking on his cell phone. However, law enforcement officials say after initially stopping, he then sped off.

    The officer lost sight of the car a few blocks later.

    We had our Internal Affairs Bureau look into this, and we see no culpability on the part of the officer,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

    Hennessey leaves behind a wife of 33 years, eight children, and 19 grandchildren. Family members say they’re devastated over his loss.

    His children are good, and it’s just a pleasure to have him, but it’s bad news for them,î said Margaret Hennessey, the victimís wife. ìMy heart is breaking and I can’t talk any more.

  3. I am Dan Hennessy’s youngest daughter. I am so saddened by the loss of my dad. Words can’t explain how much I miss him. I want to thank you for the story of my dad & your memories of him. Knowing how much he was loved & admired…even though he was one of the loudest men I knew….helps me find healing. Thank you.

  4. Thank you for the kind words you exprssd about my Dad. You have him down to a “t”. Yes, he was gruff, load, and sometimes liked to ruffle feathers. But under that tough New York attitiude was a caring, loving, compassionate man who was striving to be a better man every day. he has quit drinking in November, and writtein in his diary he wrote ” God, I am not the man I should be, I am the man I want to be, nor I am the man could be. But Thank you God, becuase I am not the man I usd to be.” He was looking forward to making the good things in his life better and making up for the mistakes he thought he made. That is a real man! I will alwasy remember him, I love him deeply, and I will try to pray for the man who so foolishly caused his death. I think that Daddy, in trying to be “the man he should be”, would want that.

    Thank you for being his friends.
    Jimmy Hennessy,

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