Last week, as those who knew him best mourned the death of local restaurateur and National Racquetball Hall of Famer Johnny Hennen, they looked back on the good times.
Hennen had long been battling an illness. He died last Thursday morning in a local hospital surrounded by family and friends.
Hennen, along with brothers Tim and Denny, owned and operated Yesterday's, one of Chattanooga's most popular restaurants/nightclubs in the 1970s, '80s and early '90s. Hennen also owned and operated Bones Smokehouse on East Brainerd Road for many years. That restaurant was forced to close because of road-widening work in 2015, but Hennen had been working to relocate it to the old Fanatics Sports Bar & Grill location in the area.
The last update on the business's Facebook page, from Feb. 22, reads: " We have officially started construction at the new site, which is in the old Fanatics building on East Brainerd Road behind Zaxby's. We're working as fast and hard as possible to get this place up and running for you all. It's taken a lot longer than we expected but I promise it'll be worth the wait. Can't wait for you guys to see and taste the new Bones Smokehouse! Also, we do not have an official reopening date yet. When we do, you'll be the first to know.
"Thanks again for your continued support! Be back soon!"
The post got 325 "shares."
Mount Vernon Restaurant owner Jeff Messinger called Hennen a friend and an inspiration, and said his contribution to the food industry in town is hard to measure.
"He persevered through many hurdles in life in such a quality manner and with such class," Messinger said.
"Watching the bond between Tim and Johnny and the family - everyone should have family like that. They are real people. Can't say enough good about that family."
Hennen and his wife Teresa had four children: Andrew, Emily, Jeffrey and Hannah.
The Rev. Mike Nolan, who has been both a family friend and family priest to the Hennens for many years, said Hennen was surrounded by many friends and family at the time of his death.
"Johnny was just very balanced," he said. "He loved his God. He loved his church and he loved his family."
Hennen won 13 national racquetball championships over his career, capturing six individual titles and seven doubles titles. He won both the singles and doubles titles in four consecutive years during one stretch.
He was honored by the Notre Dame High School Alumni Council with the Jim Phifer Service Award in 2010 for his longtime support to the school, from which he graduated in 1964 before attending Auburn University on a baseball scholarship.
Notre Dame President George Valadie said Hennen was a big supporter of the school and its mission.
"Notre Dame has been helped by so many people through so many years in a variety of ways," he said. "Some have made gifts of money. Some have been vocal supporters. Some have carried tables and chairs. Some have prayed for us. Very few people have done them all, but he did. Notre Dame will sadly and sorely miss him. And that's without even mentioning his contribution as a student and student athlete, which were tremendous."
Valadie also said he remembered the day years ago the two first met.
"He treated me as if we'd known each other all our lives, and although it was flattering, I knew right away that's how the man treated everyone."
Longtime friend Dennis Haskins, an actor who appeared on TV's "Saved By the Bell," knew Hennen from Notre Dame but also from Yesterday's, when he used to book bands into the club.
"You knew if Johnny liked you when he teased you," he said. "Johnny Hennen was one of my heroes! He was one of those people whose actions spoke louder than words. Whose heart was bigger than life. So big, I don't know how it fit in his body. My heart goes out to Teresa and their children, as well as Johnny's brothers and sister. On a personal note, I will miss this man so much and know he's with God now watching out for all of us."