Ethel Kennedy, who endured the tragic loss of her husband, Robert F. Kennedy, and her brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, to assassins, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. Her death was attributed to complications resulting from a stroke she suffered the previous week, as reported by her grandson, former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, in a statement shared on X.
Joe Kennedy expressed the family’s sorrow, stating, “It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy.” He highlighted her deep Catholic faith, noting that she was a daily communicant, and took comfort in the knowledge that she is now reunited with her beloved husband.
Ethel Kennedy’s legacy includes her dedication to social justice and human rights, along with her role as a mother to nine children, grandmother to 34, and great-grandmother to 24.
Her passing comes shortly after her son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ended his presidential campaign and caused a stir in the family by endorsing former President Donald Trump.
Born Ethel Skakel on April 11, 1928, in Chicago, her life was marred by tragedy before she became a widow at the hands of Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated her husband in 1968. Prior to that, her parents died in a plane crash in 1955.
Ethel met Robert F. Kennedy in 1945 at a ski resort while he was dating her sister. They married in 1950 and welcomed their first child in 1951. They lived in a Virginia mansion previously owned by JFK, where Robert’s political career began to flourish.
Ethel was an active participant in JFK’s presidential campaign and became an essential supporter of her husband’s political aspirations after JFK’s assassination. After Robert F. Kennedy was murdered while campaigning for the presidency in 1968, Ethel gave birth to their last child, Rory, and became deeply involved in the causes her husband championed.
In recognition of her efforts, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014. Obama praised her as a friend filled with passion for justice, kindness, and humor.
Ethel Kennedy did not remarry but was frequently seen with family friend Andy Williams during the 1970s, despite his denial of a romantic relationship.
Her life continued to be overshadowed by tragedy, losing her son Michael in a skiing accident in 1997, and her son David to a drug overdose in 1984. She also faced the legal troubles of her nephew, Michael Skakel, in connection to a murder case and the overdose death of her granddaughter, Saoirse Kennedy Hill, in 2019.
Joe Kennedy mentioned that Ethel also endured the loss of family members, including her daughter-in-law and two great-grandchildren.
In 2021, Ethel’s grief was rekindled when a California parole board first proposed to release her husband’s killer. At the age of 93, she publicly opposed the move, emphasizing the lasting impact of her husband’s assassination on their family.
Ethel’s stance was supported by the majority of her surviving children, although two sons advocated for Sirhan’s release. In 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom upheld Ethel’s objections, blocking Sirhan’s release from prison. In March 2023, his subsequent attempt for parole was denied.