Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and a prominent member of the Kennedy family, passed away at the age of 96 due to complications related to a stroke. Born Ethel Skakel in Chicago in 1928, she became an integral part of the Kennedy dynasty through her marriage to Robert F. Kennedy in 1950.
As the matriarch of the Kennedy family, Ethel Kennedy’s influence extended far beyond the walls of her home. She was a mother to 11 children, and her role in their lives cultivated a legacy of activism and public service. After the assassination of her husband in 1968, she did not retreat from the public eye but instead channeled her grief into action. She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, an organization that continues to advocate for human rights and social justice across the globe. Ethel Kennedy was so staunchly loyal to the family as to be known as being “more Kennedy than the Kennedys.” She never remarried after the tragic assassination of her husband.
Ethel Kennedy’s contributions to society were recognized in 2014 when she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. This honor highlighted her lifelong dedication to the causes her husband championed, including civil rights, environmental justice, and the fight against poverty.
Her passing marks the end of an era for the Kennedy family. She was one of the last surviving members of the Kennedy generation of President John F. Kennedy. The legacy of the Kennedys continues through the younger generations of the extensive family and the numerous contributions they have made to American politics and society. Her son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was a presidential candidate in the 2024 race until he withdrew and endorsed the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
While the direct siblings of President John F. Kennedy have passed, their influence endures through the work of their children and grandchildren in public service and advocacy.
