Local legends
Today [April 4], we mourn the passings of two local legends whose voices spoke for the communities they loved and the residents they cared about: former Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and long-time Press-Telegram columnist Tom Hennessey. My friendships with both Bill and Tom were born from the Cerritos air crash tragedy.
Bill’s passion, willingness to listen and devotion to helping the most vulnerable were all the qualities you want in a representative. When I was the mayor of Cerritos, Bill conducted my first public TV interview following the Cerritos air crash. His compassion and understanding for what the community and residents were going through helped the healing process begin and fostered a great friendship that spanned 30 years. While Bill was on the city council, we worked together to solve a number of issues facing Marina del Rey and LAX. He was the definition of a true public servant— doing everything he could to make the neighborhoods he represented a better place for everyone to live, work and play.
Tom Hennessey, better known as “Mr. Long Beach,” was synonymous with the city, crafting funny and amusing columns about local culture and the community. In the aftermath of the Cerritos air crash, a major disagreement between Tom and I helped launch an incredible friendship that lasted 30 years. He was the biggest Notre Dame fan I knew, and each year we would make a friendly wager on the results of the Notre Dame-USC football game with the loser wearing the winning team’s gear. Tom’s legacy isn’t just defined by his 30-year career at the Press-Telegram; he was a champion for many charitable causes that support our region’s most vulnerable, including veterans and young people. Tom’s passing is a huge loss for Long Beach, and I will truly miss my brother and Fighting Irish friend. Bill’s and Tom’s friends and loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers today.
Don Knabe
LA County Supervisor
4th District
