Joseph P. Kennedy (18 May 1928 - 21 July 2024[1]) was a Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Chemistry at the University of Akron,[2] noted particularly for inventing a polymer coating for a drug-tipped stent that is highly compatible to human tissue,[3] and that was successfully commercialized by Boston Scientific[4] and credited for saving the lives of 6 million patients.
He gained citizenship upon earning his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Vienna, and he then completed postgraduate work at the Sorbonne in France.
[8] Following many years of success in his field, Kennedy accepted an Honorary Doctorate from Kossuth University in 1989.
He later joined Exxon, where he apprenticed under Robert M. Thomas,[9] and held a series of positions with increasing responsibility.
His interest in pure science eventually led him to seek a position in academia.