Stephen M. Kenneway

Stephen M. “Mickey” Kenneway, 75, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

To know Mickey was to know a man who never backed down from a challenge. He was tough, determined, fiercely loyal, and loved deeply. Whether he was working on an engine, cheering from the sidelines of a race, or simply spending time with the people he loved, Mickey lived life on his own terms and gave it everything he had.

Born in Webster, he was the son of the late Mitchell and Martha (Buchka) Kenneway.

He graduated from Bartlett High School and Worcester Boys’ Trade School and spent much of his life doing what came naturally to him, fixing things. From the time he was a young boy taking apart cars and putting them back together again, he had grease in his veins and a gift for mechanics that eventually led him to own and operate Mickey’s Garage, in Dudley, MA, for many years.

Cars, motorcycles, and racing were not just hobbies to Mickey, they were part of who he was. He loved traveling to racetracks with his father, his friends, and later his children. He became a successful partner in flat-track motorcycle racing and remained passionate about the sport throughout his life. In recent years, few things made him prouder than being part of his son Stephen Jr.’s race team.

He was equally at home on the water with a fishing rod in his hand. Some of his happiest moments were spent fishing with family and friends, sharing stories, laughter, and the anticipation that comes with every cast. For Mickey, fishing wasn’t always about what was caught, it was about the people beside him and the memories made along the way.

Before family responsibilities took center stage, Mickey was known to tear up a dance floor or two. He loved music, loved to dance, and enjoyed life to the fullest. He never needed to be the center of attention, but somehow he often was.

Of all the things Mickey loved, nothing meant more to him than his family. He was the proud father of six children: Christine A. Kenneway, Stephen M. Kenneway, Jr., and his wife, Nano; Christopher M. Kenneway; Stephanie M. Kenneway, Brianna S. Kenneway; and Nicholas S. Kenneway. He also leaves behind the mothers of his children, Patricia A. (Margosian) Kenneway and Joy (Papagni) D’Allessandro.

He was a proud grandfather to Molly E. Kenneway, Liberty P. Lewis, and Charlotte L. Kenneway, and he loved watching the next generation grow.

Mickey is also survived by the love of his life and best friend of more than twenty years, Jane E. Esposito. Together they built a life filled with laughter, road trips and traveling, home-cooked meals, NASCAR races, concerts, countless conversations, and spending quality time with close friends. It was the kind of companionship that only grows stronger with time. Through every challenge life placed before them, they stood side by side.

He is also survived by his sister, Marlene “Cookie” Kenneway-Gaumond; his nephew, Mitchell Gaumond; and his niece, Elizabeth Gaumond.

In the end, cancer may have taken Mickey’s body, but it never took his spirit. He fought with every ounce of strength he had, just as he had faced every obstacle throughout his life. Those who knew him will remember his stubborn determination, his sense of humor, his willingness to help others, and the fierce love he had for the people who mattered most to him.

His greatest accomplishment was not the business he built or the races he loved, but the relationships he forged and the people who were proud to call him family and friend.

The world feels a little quieter without him in it; but his stories, his laughter, and the memories he gave us will live on forever.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. ❤️❤️❤️