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Courtesy of Jeff T. Hennessy...

Trampoline community mourns death of pioneer Jeff T. Hennessy

Jeff T. Hennessy (USA), former chairman of the International Trampoline Federation's (FIT) Technical Committee and the United States' most successful Trampoline and Double Mini-trampoline coach, passed away on March 24, 2015, at the age of 85.

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A judge and a coach, Hennessy was a pioneer in the sport of Trampoline. He participated in the first World Championships in London (GBR) in 1964 as a judge and the athletes he coached amassed a total of 26 World medals between 1965 and1982.

Hennessy was an associate professor of physical education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 1959 to 1986, where he taught, instructed, and coached the Swimming, Diving and Gymnastics teams for 27 years.

His awards and recognitions include: FIT Lifetime Membership Award (1984); International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1992); USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996); and World Acrobatics Society Legends Hall of Fame (2005).

Among the most accomplished of Hennessy's athletes was his daughter and two-time Double Mini-trampoline World champion (1976, 1978) and 1976 World silver medalist in Synchronised Trampoline Leigh Hennessy, as well as World champions and medalists Ron Merriott (Diving), Stuart Ransom, Don Waters, Gary Smith, Jim Yongue and Wayne Miller.

Hennessy is survived by his wife, Ruth, son, Jeff Jr. and daughters, Leigh and Kay.