By Doug Miller
Hennessy, 38, was in good spirits Tuesday, and said his doctors believe they caught the cancer early, but no determination had been made as of Tuesday of what type of cancer it was or what the prescribed course of treatment beyond surgery would be. Hennessy vowed to stay in office during the course of his treatment.
Hennessy, a Republican, was first elected to the City Council in 2003 as part of a coalition government with Democrat Tom Sofield Jr. and Republican Mona Goodman. He served two years as council president, and for his success in wresting power away from the longstanding Long Beach Democratic monopoly on power, he was named the Herald's Person of the Year in 2004.
"I'm not resigning, although I've heard that rumor already," he said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "Absolutely not. In fact, I'm already planning my re-election."
The diagnosis is particularly jarring because Hennessy has such a vigorous, healthy air. A Long Beach lifeguard, he is the father of two young children, and he is as well known for his modeling career as his politics. His picture adorns the "natural medium brown" Just For Men hair dye package, which is often featured in the product's television commercials.
Hennessy works full-time as a special education teacher in the Hewlett school system. "He's Superman," said former Councilman James Moriarty, the Long Beach Republican leader. "He is an amazing guy who is completely focused, and there is no doubt in my mind that if anyone can make [himself] better by sheer willpower, then Jimmy Hennessy can."
Good wishes came from both sides of the aisle. "Jimmy Hennessy has a great inner strength and a deep personal faith," said Democratic City Council President Lenny Remo. "No one I know has a more positive outlook."
And Hennessy's 2003 running mate, Tom Sofield, released a statement in which he promised his friend would be fine. "Jim is one of the strongest and most resilient people I have ever met," Sofield said. "With the support of his wife, Bonnie, his friends and the Long Beach community, he will get through this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
Hennessy is one of nine children, and lost an older sister, Mary, to cancer. His daughter, Molly, who will be 2 in April, is named for her. Bonnie Hennessy gave birth to a son, Seamus, in November.
Hennessy first disclosed his condition Jan. 12 in an e-mail sent to friends and to the Herald. He said he hoped his going public with the illness would stem the flood of rumors. "Bonnie is handling it okay, but obviously things are moving very fast," Hennessy wrote. At the time, the doctors believed they had also found masses around his liver, which might have indicated that the cancer had spread, but Hennessy said Tuesday that his doctors at St. Francis Hospital's cardiac center in Port Washington had run additional tests and determined that his liver was clean.
"That was a relief," he said. "It's bad, don't get me wrong. But it could be much worse."
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