Ethel Kennedy: A Legacy of Activism and Resilience

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a distinguished human rights activist, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96. The announcement was made by her family, with former Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy III sharing the news on social media. Ethel had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke the previous week.

In his heartfelt tribute, Joe Kennedy reflected on his grandmother’s remarkable life, stating, “Along with a lifetime’s work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, all of whom love her dearly.” He noted her strong Catholic faith, expressing comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her late husband, Robert, along with other family members who have passed.

Ethel Kennedy became a prominent figure in American political life through her marriage to Robert F. Kennedy, whom she supported during his successful Senate campaign and his 1968 presidential bid. Tragically, Robert was assassinated shortly after winning California’s Democratic primary, just five years after the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy. The loss rattled a nation already in turmoil, coming just two months after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Ethel, who was pregnant with their youngest daughter, Rory, at the time, was photographed leaning over her husband in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Following Robert’s death, Ethel Kennedy carved out her own identity as an activist. She founded the nonprofit organization Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights to advocate for the causes her husband championed, including social justice, environmental protection, and human rights. Her activism spanned decades and crossed international boundaries, from marching with César Chávez in support of farm workers to confronting Kenyan dictator Daniel Arap Moi in 1989.

In recognition of her tireless work, Ethel received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014. Her commitment to activism remained unwavering; in 2018, she participated in a hunger strike to protest the Trump administration’s policy of separating families at the U.S.-Mexico border. “Generations of Americans did not toil and sacrifice to build a country where children and their parents are placed in cages to advance a cynical political agenda,” she stated at the time.

Ethel Kennedy’s family found themselves embroiled in political conflict when her second-eldest son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ran for president in 2024, first as a Democrat and later as an independent. This move was met with disapproval from many family members, who described his campaign as “dangerous.” RFK Jr. eventually suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump.

In a post honoring his mother, RFK Jr. described Ethel as a woman who “invented tough love” and was fiercely loyal to her children. He credited her with instilling in each of them a love for storytelling, athleticism, and a deep curiosity about the world. “I credit her for all my virtues,” he said, expressing gratitude for her understanding of his flaws.

Ethel was born in 1928 to a large family in Chicago and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She met Robert F. Kennedy in 1945 through his sister, Jean, during a ski trip. The couple married in 1950 and went on to have 11 children together.

Her life was not without tragedy. Ethel lost her parents in a plane crash in 1955, her brother in another crash in 1966, and faced the heartbreaking deaths of her son David from a drug overdose in 1984 and Michael in a skiing accident in 1997. The family’s sorrow continued with the accidental overdose of her granddaughter Saoirse in 2019 and the tragic drowning of another granddaughter, Maeve, along with her 8-year-old son in 2020.

President Joe Biden recognized Ethel Kennedy as an “American icon,” praising her as a “matriarch of optimism and moral courage.” He expressed gratitude for the inspiration she provided to millions, including himself and his wife, Jill.

Ethel Kennedy leaves behind a rich legacy of activism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to social justice that will be remembered for generations to come.