At a Glance
- Ethel Kennedy, widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, died Oct. 10 at age 96.
- She raised 11 children and founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.
- Daughter Kerry announced the death, noting 34 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren survive.
- Why it matters: The last direct link to the 1960s Kennedy era ends, leaving a sprawling political and activist legacy.
Ethel Kennedy, the Chicago-born widow of U.S. Sen. Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy, died on Oct. 10, 2024, at age 96, her family announced. The human-rights activist had suffered a stroke days earlier. She leaves nine living children, 34 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
The Early Years
Ethel married Robert Sr. in 1950. Between 1951 and 1968 the couple had seven sons and four daughters. The youngest, Rory, was born six months after her father’s assassination in 1968.
After her husband’s death, Ethel launched the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights to carry forward his civil-rights work. She spent decades campaigning for Kennedy family members while steering her own children toward public service.
The 11 Kennedy Children
Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend, 74
Born July 4, 1951, Kathleen is the eldest daughter. A horseback-riding accident at 14 left her with lasting injuries. She earned a law degree from the University of New Mexico and entered Maryland politics.
- First Kennedy to lose a general election, 1986
- Maryland lieutenant governor, 1995-2003
- Lost 2002 gubernatorial race
- Published Failing America’s Faithful in 2007
- Daughter Maeve and grandson Gideon died in a 2020 canoeing accident
Joseph Patrick Kennedy II, 73
Born Sept. 24, 1952, in Boston, Joseph founded the nonprofit Citizens Energy in 1979. He served in the U.S. House for Massachusetts’ 8th district from 1987 to 1999.
- Married Sheila Rauch in 1979; twin sons Matt and Joe III born 1980
- Divorced 1991; married Anne Elizabeth Kelly 1993
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., 72
Born Jan. 17, 1954, RFK Jr. graduated from Harvard and the University of Virginia Law School. A 1980 heroin-possession arrest led to community service at Riverkeeper, where he later became chief prosecuting attorney.
Known for anti-vaccine activism, he ran for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, then dropped out and endorsed Republican Donald Trump.
- Married Emily Ruth Black 1982; two children
- Married Mary Richardson 1994; four children; she died by suicide 2012
- Married actress Cheryl Hines 2014
David Anthony Kennedy (1955-1984)
Born June 15, 1955, David was 13 when his father died. He struggled with addiction and died of an overdose on April 25, 1984, after leaving Harvard.
Mary Courtney Kennedy Hill, 69
Born Sept. 9, 1956, Courtney largely avoided politics. She married producer Robert Ruhe (1980-1990) and later Paul Hill, wrongfully imprisoned 15 years over IRA bombings. Their daughter Saoirse died of an accidental overdose in 2019.
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy (1958-1997)
Born Feb. 27, 1958, Michael graduated from Harvard and UVA Law. He admitted an affair with the family’s teen babysitter in 1997, prompting separation from wife Victoria Gifford. He died in a skiing accident Dec. 31, 1997, leaving three children.
Mary Kerry Kennedy, 66
Born Sept. 8, 1959, Kerry heads Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the organization her mother founded. She married New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 1990; they divorced in 2005 and have three daughters.
Christopher George Kennedy, 62
Born July 4, 1963, Christopher chairs Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises and has held roles in politics and business. He married Sheila Sinclair Berner in 1987; they have four children.
Matthew Maxwell “Max” Kennedy, 61
Born Jan. 11, 1965, Max chased down a mugger on his first day as a Philadelphia prosecutor. He campaigned for Sen. Ted Kennedy and Barack Obama. He and wife Victoria Strauss have three children.
Douglas Harriman Kennedy, 58
Born March 24, 1967, Douglas became a journalist, joining Fox News in 1996 to host Douglas Kennedy’s American Stories. He and wife Molly Stark have five children.
Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy, 57
Born Dec. 12, 1968, Rory is an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker whose films premiered at Sundance and Tribeca. She wed filmmaker Mark Bailey in 1999; they have three children. The couple postponed their original wedding date after cousin John F. Kennedy Jr.’s fatal plane crash.
Key Takeaways
- Ethel Kennedy’s death closes the final chapter of the 1960s Kennedy generation.
- Nine of her 11 children survive, carrying on the family’s mix of politics, activism and public service.
- The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights remains her living legacy.
