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Ethel Kennedy, the widow of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a longtime advocate for human rights, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. She had suffered a stroke last week and was hospitalized before her death.
Her grandson, former Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III, shared the news on social media. He highlighted her lifelong commitment to social justice and her devotion to her large family, which includes nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. “She was a devout Catholic and we’re comforted knowing she’s reunited with our father and other loved ones,” he wrote.
Ethel married Robert F. Kennedy in 1950, joining one of the country’s most influential political families. She supported him through his time as a senator and during his 1968 presidential campaign, which tragically ended when he was assassinated in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, Ethel was pregnant with their 11th child.
After losing her husband, Ethel became an advocate in her own right. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, fighting for the causes her late husband had championed. Over the years, she worked with leaders like Cesar Chavez and stood up to global dictators. In 2014, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in recognition of her activism.
Her life, however, was marked by personal loss. In addition to her husband’s death, Ethel endured the loss of two sons and several grandchildren in tragic accidents.
Most recently, her family faced division as her son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ran for president in 2024, a campaign that much of the family did not support.
President Joe Biden called her an “American icon,” praising her for her strength, service, and courage. Her son, RFK Jr., remembered her tough love and unwavering loyalty to her family.
Ethel Kennedy leaves behind a legacy of resilience and dedication to social justice, inspiring generations to come.
Source: CNN
