Holyoke Native Named 2023 JFK Award Winner

Lenny Jacobson

2023 JFK Award Winner

The St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke has announced it’s 64th recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Award is Holyoke native, actor Lenny Jacobson. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Award is presented annually to an American of Irish descent who has distinguished themselves in their chosen field. It is named after President John F. Kennedy, who was the Parade’s first National Award recipient.

Born and raised in Holyoke Massachusetts, Lenny spent most of his younger years on the fields of McMahon school playing soccer or the basketball courts of the Holyoke YMCA. Lenny attended Blessed Sacrament School and graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School where he was a member of the 1991 Western Mass Division III champion basketball team. In 2001, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

After some initial success in commercials, his big break came on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie as the character Lenny the EMT. Since then he’s worked on series including NCIS, CSI , Big Time in Hollywood, FL & Narcos. On the big screen, he has appeared in the films Bumblebee & Like Father. Most recently, he appeared on HBO’s Peacemaker and played Wayne Cobb on Apple TV’s For All Mankind.

Even while living in Los Angeles the last 22 years, Lenny has been able to get back to Holyoke a couple times a year to see local friends and family. He couldn’t be more excited and grateful to receive this honor.

President Karen Casey says, “I’m very excited to have Lenny Jacobson as our 2023 JFK award recipient! He’s a hometown boy who has excelled in his career, I think he should bring a lot of Holyokers out to watch the parade! He and Holyoke should be very proud. I look forward to seeing him.”