Ethel Kennedy, pillar of the Kennedy family and widow of late US politician Robert F. Kennedy, dies at 96. Death marks the end of an era for one of America’s most powerful families.
Ethel Kennedy would be remembered as a graceful, resilient figure always dedicated to public service, an indispensable presence in her husband, Robert Kennedy, and their family life, which played out as both an epitome of triumph and tragedy in the saga of American history.
The Early Years of Ethel Kennedy
Ethel Skakel was born on April 11, 1928. She was the daughter of a big-time businessman in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in strict Roman Catholic tradition, Ethel developed a strong sense of social responsibility and religious conviction with which she would spend the rest of her life.
Ethel was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and Manhattanville College. Then came 1945, which was to change her life.
There she met Robert F. Kennedy while skiing, during which he just happened to be dating her older sister Patricia. The couple married in 1950, starting a partnership marked by political involvement, public service, and, eventually, severe personal loss.
Ethel’s Role as Robert Kennedy’s Wife
Ethel was Robert F. Kennedy’s constant friend and confidante as he ascended in political prominence, first as Attorney General under his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and later as a United States Senator from New York. She threw herself into fame in the public eye rather quickly with boundless energy and quick wit.
Ethel loved being the political wife: throwing parties, and she threw them with zest, supporting her husband’s career fully. She was known to bring warmth and genuineness to the sometimes stiff realm of politics. She supported Robert Kennedy during his campaigns and stood by him during the stormy political climate of the 1960s, when the Kennedy family was central to American political life.
Under Ethel’s leadership, the Kennedy household grew into a thriving hub of activity. She and Robert had 11 children, all of whom would grow up under the unique strains of being a member of America’s “first family” of politics. Ethel was a strict but loving parent, keeping her children perfectly aware of their position in history, but at the same time challenging them to lead full, independent lives.
The Assassination of Robert Kennedy
On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was slain while running for president, causing tragedy for the Kennedy family. His murder occurred just five years after his older brother, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated, causing the family to be devastated once more.
At 39, Ethel was left a widow with 11 to care for, the youngest, Rory Kennedy, born later and still alive today. The killing made not only the family lose a father and husband but deprived the country of a leader whom many hoped might bring the necessary unity to the land during a time of both great social and political change.
Although she faced the worst tragedy, Ethel was a very energetic woman. And for the demanding years since her husband’s death, it was faith in God and devotion to her family that kept her going. Then she promised to continue the crusade of her husband for social justice, civil rights, and other causes of humanity.
Ethel Kennedy’s Life After Robert’s Death
Ethel Kennedy dedicated herself to public service and philanthropy after the assassination of Robert Kennedy. In her opinion, it was a duty to further the legacy of her husband; this is because she founded the Robert F.
Kennedy Memorial, now known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, in relation to his human rights and social fairness agenda worldwide. Ethel was very active with the organization, which would push forth in struggles such as human trafficking, discrimination, and civil rights.
However, there was also personal struggle: the Kennedy family was plagued by what has been referred to as the “Kennedy curse,” a series of tragic and premature deaths. Ethel’s son David died of a heroin overdose in 1984, while her son Michael perished in a skiing accident in 1997.
These losses put her perseverance to the test, yet she remained committed to her children, grandkids, and charity organizations.
Despite the traumas in her life, Ethel was noted for her unwavering spirit. Friends and family have praised her as a woman of remarkable wit, kindness, and fortitude. She remained close to her children and active in their lives, even as they got older and followed their own professions in politics, journalism, and activism.
Among the most searing reminders of the Kennedy tradition today are her children: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental attorney with much influence and Kerry Kennedy, activist in human rights.
A Legacy of Public Service
The life of Ethel Kennedy was pretty intertwined with the influence of one of America’s most prominent political families. For most of her life, she was an advocate for the downtrodden and oppressed; she made life a force that attracted causes she wanted people to remember.
Having an interest in human rights, racial equality, and social justice were an extension of what her husband did, and she was loved for the effort she made in making the world a better place.
She has received several medals and awards for her charity works. One of them, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014, is particular memorable. Speaking at the ceremony, President Obama described Ethel as “an extraordinary woman who has touched the lives of so many with her warmth and generosity. “
Remembering Ethel Kennedy
Ethel Kennedy is dead at 96; a life of both astonishing joy and poignancy has come to an end. She lost her husband, her children, and countless other family members to the world but remained an icon of strength and resilience in her passing years.
It is she whose life embodied so much faith, family, and public service-an ethos that cannot be defeated. She will be remembered as a woman who carved her way into the pages of history rather than the wife of one of America’s most beloved political figures.
Ethel Kennedy attracted the world’s attention through her work on human rights, through devotion to her family, and indefatigable zeal for justice.
Indeed, her legacy lives on in the traditions and cultural means in which the tradition of posterity continues to respect the principles that she and her husband championed even after the death of the Kennedy family and the country.
Conclusion
The life of Ethel Kennedy is so fraught with the complexities of belonging to one of the best-known American families in history. It was, in actuality, one of loss but one of resilience, compassion, and public service dedication in her time that will ensure that her legacy lives on.
As the world remembers Ethel, it would do well in remembering her contributions to society and resilient spirit as testimonies to inspire generations to come.
FAQs:
Who was Ethel Kennedy?
Ethel Kennedy is widely known as the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, a high-ranking United States political leader and former Attorney General of the United States. She had always been an important part of the Kennedy family and, throughout her life, the center of her service and activities were merely for public interest and human rights.
When did Ethel Kennedy die?
Ethel Kennedy dies at age 96 in October 2024.
How many children did Ethel Kennedy have?
Ethel and Robert Kennedy have 11 children, and they brought them up under the public eye part of the world famous Kennedy family.