Sam Kennedy addresses John Henry, Tom Werner absences from Larry Lucchino's funeral

John Henry and Tom Werner were absent from Larry Lucchino’s funeral, a bad look from an optics standpoint for a duo that has had its share of public missteps lately.

MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported that neither Henry nor Werner attended the services of their former business partner, who died earlier this month at the age of 78. Lucchino played an integral role in the revitalization of Fenway Park after Henry and Co. took over ownership of the team. He also played a key role in moving the Triple-A team from Pawtucket to Worcester.

Lucchino also had a similar impact in Baltimore and San Diego, with the building of Petco Park and Camden Yards happening while he was with the Padres and Orioles, respectively.

In any event, it was not a good look for Henry or Werner that they weren’t at Lucchino’s services -- though McAdam had reported Henry was sick. Neither Henry nor Werner make regular public appearances, leaving Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy to answer for their absences during an appearance Thursday on The Greg Hill Show.

“Yeah, look, the reporting was accurate,” Kennedy conceded. “Unfortunately John was indeed sick, he was quite sick, and Tom was out of the country.

“Given what Larry meant to us in the front office – worked with this guy for 25-plus years, he led us to three World Series champs in Boston, and San Diego we went to the World Series together against the Yankees in 1998 when we were with the Padres. He built Camden Yards.

“I think the discussion and the focus on the funeral, the ceremony or the service, I just wouldn’t ever want to take away from what this guy achieved, what he meant to all of us who knew him personally and professionally. What he meant to those communities, Baltimore, San Diego and Boston, and then ultimately Worcester. It’s amazing that his final achievement secure the home of the Triple-A Red Sox forever.

“Just an incredible guy, he wasn’t always the easiest guy to work for, I can tell you that, but we loved him and he loved all of us, and he especially loved Dana Farber and this community.”