St. Mary's Point - 82, of St. Mary's Point, Minn., died peacefully at home on Monday. The St. Croix River was outside his window and his wife, Mary Ellen, and four grown children were at his bedside. It was, as the Irish say, a happy death. Bob was raised on St. Paul's Rice Street by his mother, Lucille, and father, Bob Sr. He played a mean hot corner, helping his midget baseball team win the VFW state championship. He was voted best looking by the Washington High School class of 1961. Bob was the first in his family to go to college. He was educated at the U of M, where he graduated from law school in 1968 armed with ambition, a sharp sense of justice and a pack of lifelong friends. He clerked for U.S. Circuit Court Judge Gerald Heaney and, like his mentor, believed in using politics and the law to improve people's lives. He met Mary Ellen, the mayor's daughter, at a DFL convention and was smitten, even after she wrecked his Austin-Healey convertible on their second date. They raised their four children in St. Paul, building a community rooted in their strong Catholic faith and love of a big dinner party. Their beloved home at The River was often filled with delicious food, sandy feet, grandchildren and great conversation. He loved it that way. Bob was preceded in death by his mother, father and sister, Patricia Engfer. He is survived by Mary Ellen, his children, Molly Hennessey Greenwalt (Kyle) of East Lansing, Mich., Kathleen Hennessey Carroll (Bill) of Minneapolis, Patrick Hennessey (Meghan Graber) of San Francisco and Robert Hennessey, Jr. of St. Mary's Point, eight grandchildren: Gus, Teddy and Mary Rose Greenwalt, Will and Leo Hennessey, Liam, Patrick and Desi Carroll and his beloved Borgestad cousins. Services: Visitation at O'Halloran and Murphy in St. Paul, Thursday, Mar. 5., 5-7pm. Funeral mass Friday, Mar. 6 at Assumption Church at 10am, visitation at 9am. In lieu of flowers, donations to People Incorporated and Catholic Charities.