Read Master Barber Heliodoro Andres "Eddie, Lio, Tiempo" Hudson Kennedy's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Master Barber Heliodoro Andres "Eddie, Lio, Tiempo" Hudson Kennedy

Brooklyn, NY

July 3, 1941 - May 13, 2021

Jul 3, 1941 - May 13, 2021

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Master barber and musician, Heliodoro Andres Hudson Kennedy, 79, transitioned in his signature way, fast and in a hurry, May 13th, 2021.

Heliodoro was born to Melva Elizabeth Kennedy de Hudson and Juan Hudson on July 3, 1941 in Bocas del Toro, Panamá. As a young teenager, Heliodoro showed a keen interest in barbering. He began frequenting the barber shops of his uncles, Sealy and Lucho, on 13th Street and Amador Guerrero, in Colón. Heliodoro was a fast learner and quickly became a skillful barber by the age of 15.

In the early 1960s, Heliodoro Andres joined the Panamanian Police force as a barber where he was the primary barber for both Fort Davis and Fort Sherman Army bases in Colón. This notoriety led Heliodoro to become the personal barber to, then, Executive Secretary of the Panamanian National Guard, Omar Torrijos, in the mid-1960s.

In Panamá, Heliodoro was a talented musician and dancer with roots extending back to calypso, afro-Caribbean jazz, and Latin music. He found his beginnings in the music industry as a base player for the likes of Conjunto Leslie, the Henry Marcel Band, and Orchestra de Juan Santamaria. Playing base ignited his soul and he, likewise, inspired others with the popular music of the time.

In 1969, he migrated to New York and resided mainly in the East New York area of Brooklyn. Typical of his entrepreneurial spirit, Heliodoro went on to own several barber shops in East New York and trained many young barbers and beauticians in the art of precision cuts. One such eager apprentice was his nephew, Eruben (Ruben). His final apprentice was his own grandson, Asaf, whom he trained on his last trip to Panamá this past January, 2021. On this trip, he was adamant about taking quality barber supplies and equipment, which he left with his grandson so that he, too, can provide barbering services and become self-employed. Priceless!

Heliodoro Andres, also known as Eddie, Lio, and Tiempo, was predeceased by his wife, Juvencia Molinar de Hudson, and his siblings, Thelma, Carmen, Hilario, Jacinto, and Laura. He is survived by his sister Olivia, his children, Nidia, Mary, Gilberto, Yeny Zut, Roberto, Zoraida, Monica, and Nolan; grandchildren, Jezreel, Darkiris, Asaf, Anggrene, Roberto, Kevin, Yordi, Ramses, Jhon, Maya, and Samuel; and great grandchildren, Gael, Sahily, and many, many nieces, nephews, grand and great grandnieces and nephews, as well as many, many friends.

Heliodoro Andres Hudson Kennedy will be remembered for his infectious smile and laughter, his wildly entertaining stories, his love of cooking and eating escovitch fish with lots of onions, barbecue sauce and French dressing, his crazy sayings (ie. “Kiss my granny neck back!”/ “Bartolo, quítate el saco!”/ “A barber needs a wife.”/ and “Satan cannot beat God.”), and most important, his generous giving heart. Uncle Lio, your memory will be eternally cherished and remembered with fondness. Bendición.

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