Ethel Kennedy, Human Rights Advocate and Matriarch of the Kennedy Dynasty, Dies at 96

October 9, 2024, New York, NY— Ethel Kennedy, a dedicated advocate for human rights and widow of Robert F. Kennedy, passed away at the age of 96.

NEW YORK – Ethel Kennedy, widow of former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and a lifelong human rights champion, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. She died from complications related to a stroke she suffered earlier this month, her grandson Joe Kennedy III confirmed in a social media post.

Kennedy, a central figure in one of America’s most prominent political families, tirelessly advocated for social justice. In a heartfelt statement, her grandson reflected on her legacy, describing her as a “powerful woman” who led a life dedicated to her family and improving the world. “Our hearts are full of love as we announce the passing of our incredible grandmother,” Joe Kennedy wrote. “She leaves nine children, 34 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and countless others whose lives she touched.”

Both tragedy and resilience defined Ethel Kennedy’s life. Six months after the assassination of her husband in 1968, she gave birth to their 11th child, Rory. In the wake of Robert F. Kennedy’s death, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, which remains committed to advancing the causes of human rights and public service that her husband championed.

Throughout her life, Kennedy was a powerful advocate for social justice. Her daughter, Kerry Kennedy, celebrated her mother’s dedication, writing earlier this year, “For more than half a century, my mom has stood shoulder to shoulder with human rights defenders worldwide.”

Born Ethel Skakel in Chicago in 1928, she grew up in a wealthy family in Greenwich, Connecticut, where her father owned a successful coal business. She met Robert F. Kennedy, then dating her sister Patricia, when she was just 17 years old. The couple married in 1950 and became active participants in the Kennedy political dynasty. They campaigned for Robert’s brother, John F. Kennedy, during his successful 1960 presidential run, and Robert served as attorney general in John’s administration.

After John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Ethel continued to support Robert’s political ambitions until his untimely death in 1968 at the hands of assassin Sirhan Sirhan. Despite these tragedies, she remained committed to public service and advocacy, co-chairing the Coalition of Gun Control and working with various human rights organizations.

2014 President Barack Obama awarded Ethel Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing her for her unwavering dedication to social causes. “She’s gone to extraordinary lengths to build support for causes close to her heart,” Obama said during the ceremony.

Kennedy’s life was also marked by personal losses, including the deaths of two of her children — David, who died from a drug overdose in 1984, and Michael, who was killed in a skiing accident in 1997. Tragedy struck again in 1999 when her nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr., and his wife, Carolyn, died in a plane crash while en route to the wedding of Ethel’s daughter, Rory.

In her final years, Ethel Kennedy remained a revered figure within the family, symbolizing strength and perseverance. Her son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., briefly ran for president in 2024 before ending his campaign to support former President Donald Trump. Despite the family’s ups and downs, Ethel Kennedy’s enduring legacy as an advocate for human rights and social justice will remain her most significant contribution to the world.

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