Kennedy was born in Halifax in 1944 and developed a hunger for hard work from a young age, when he began helping his father Alf Kennedy repair car engines.
At the age of 16 he took up an apprenticeship at an engineering company, where he became a trainee milling machine operator. From there he joined another engineering company where he was employed in the tool room making tools.
“These were just two of the skills he learned that made him a printers’ engineer through and through,” said Sue Butcher, Kennedy’s secretary of more than 40 years.
He subsequently spent 16 years working at Thomas E. Knight & Company, known as 'Knights', before deciding to strike out on his own.
In 1977 he formed a company called M.J. Kennedy Printers’ Engineers carrying out servicing and repairing printing machinery and allied equipment.
The success of this business resulted in expansion into buying and selling machines. In 1978 Kenmart (Printing Machinery) was set up and the two companies ran side by side, dealing with used equipment sales and servicing work respectively.
Kenmart was best-known for its specialism in Komori presses.
By 2004 the industry and used machinery market had changed, and amid tough trading conditions Kennedy took the difficult decision to place Kenmart (Printing Machinery) into voluntary liquidation, although the other parts of the business continued.
It was also around this time that he was diagnosed with cancer.
Despite this, he continued to act as a machinery broker, and also sold spare parts and when possible went out himself servicing and carrying out repairs on all types of printing machinery and allied equipment.
“Sadly in 2019 his health deteriorated to the point where he was unable to work other than to give advice to printers from all over the world on how to deal with problems they were experiencing with their machines,” Butcher said.
Dean Beckett, sales director at used machinery specialist DPM, also paid tribute. He said: "Martin was a true legend! Personally I had the absolute pleasure of knowing him for all of my 25 years in the print industry. He was firm but fair in business and completely revolutionised the used Komori sector with Kenmart.
“I know that he will be missed by so many industry colleagues around the world. I’m privileged to have had him as a friend and will miss him dearly. Rest in peace Martin, from all of us at DPM.”
Outside of work Kennedy loved DIY, woodworking, gardening and music of all kinds.
“His favourite most relaxing thing to do was to be on his sit-on lawn mower cutting his grass with his iPod music playing in his headphones,” Butcher added.
He also enjoyed fishing, watching football and playing golf.
“He was a very charismatic, kind and generous man and because of his efforts in organising company golf days in conjunction with the Variety Club of Great Britain, he has been able to donate 18 Sunshine Coaches to schools for mentally and physically handicapped children,” Butcher said.
Kennedy died on 8 September. He is survived by his son Nicholas and daughter Julie, three grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
A private funeral service will be held on Tuesday 3 October, followed by a service celebrating his life at East Farleigh Church near Maidstone, Kent.
A tribute page includes in his memory can be found at martinkennedy.muchloved.com and includes the option to donate to the Heart of Kent Hospice, which provided care during his illness.
