By Chris Munzing
Hennessy, the father of nine, was returning to his home in Woodside after visiting a local bagel store at about 7 a.m. on March 13 when he was struck at the corner of 31st Avenue and 56th Street, according to Nicole Navas, a spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney's office.
Royce Quigua, 30, of 61-05 62nd St. in Woodside, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and criminally negligent homicide, Navas said. If convicted, Quigua could face up to 15 years in prison.
Navas said that Quigua was driving a 1990 red Mitsubishi Eclipse at high speed on the wrong side of the road when he struck Hennessy, killing him instantly. An NYPD spokesman said that Quigua then fled the scene. His car was discovered in a garage later that day. Quigua was arrested after police traced the license plate on his car, officials said.
Hennessy grew up in Long Beach, was married here and raised his large family here before moving to New York City. "He loved Long Beach," Jim Hennessy said. "He loved going to the beach. He loved everything about Long Beach."
Donald Hennessy met his wife on the beach, and they were married in 1950. They rented a house on Minnesota Avenue before moving to January Walk in 1960.
Hennessy had retired after many years as a bartender at the Palace Hotel in Manhattan. Jim Hennessy told the Herald last year that his father was a trusted friend of the hotel's owner, Leona Helmsley, and was a leader in his labor union.
The students and staff at Hewlett High School are saddened that Jim Hennessy, who teaches there, has suffered such a tragic loss, school officials said. "The kids are concerned for Mr. Hennessy," said Larry Tannenbaum, assistant principal at Hewlett High, where Hennessy teaches social studies at the Alternative Learning Program. "Condolences have been extended to Mr. Hennessy and his family."
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