To the editor:
Some people are born lucky. William Kennedy, or “Dr. Bill,” as his students at Dublin School call him, has always had to make his own luck. He got his first job in a pharmaceutical lab by calling up the HR manager every week and changing one item on his resumé, so she would place it back on top of the pile.
That was job one. He eventually climbed his way to become editor-in-chief at A+ publishing and inCider magazine. But when IDG moved operations to California, Dr. Bill chose to remain in Peterborough rather than take a promotion on the West Coast, even though it meant that he had to figure out a new way to support our family.
He and a colleague spent almost a year writing HTML: The Definitive Guide. The book ended up selling three quarter million copies in a dozen languages. But he didn’t stop there. He invested those earnings in our robot company so that we could build it into the leading provider of mobile robots to universities in the world. We hired dozens of people, in good-paying jobs, and brought millions of dollars into New Hampshire for decades.
You see, Dr. Bill didn’t just live in town for three and a half decades. He helped build it. We raised our family here. He volunteered in schools, on boards and on town committees.
What amazed me, throughout our marriage, was that, whether he was working in the lab or editing magazines or, even, making pastrami, his colleagues would say to me, “Bill is the best (lab guy/editor/charcuterie chef), I’ve ever met.” No matter what he takes on, he masters!
Dr. Bill is an experienced manager; he handled much of the legal side of our company, which is also important to select persons who must understand the state and town statutes. He learned, as one of five kids in a tiny house, how to live within his means and to work well with other people. He knows how to make things happen. He’ll not just rail at high taxes, he’ll actually dissect the parts of the problem and address them.
Why is Dr. Bill running for Select Board? I believe it’s partly because he was raised as a Catholic and taught to serve his fellows. But also because he realizes that the Select Board needs someone who can figure out solutions and work with others to make them happen. That is what he’s been doing all his life.
Barbara Miller is an incredibly hard act to follow, but I believe William Kennedy will make an exceptional selectman.
Jeanne Dietsch
Peterborough