11-10-2024 (WASHINGTON) Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and a stalwart figure in American political history, has passed away at the age of 96. Her death on Thursday marked the end of an era for one of the most prominent families in US politics.
Born Ethel Skakel on 11 April 1928 in Chicago, she married into the Kennedy dynasty in 1950, wedding Robert F. Kennedy, the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy. Throughout her life, Ethel Kennedy embodied the spirit of public service and resilience that became synonymous with the Kennedy name.
Her life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. The assassination of her husband in 1968, whilst he was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, left her a widow with 11 children, the youngest of whom was born six months after Robert’s death. Despite this devastating loss, Ethel Kennedy remained a formidable presence in American public life.
In the wake of her husband’s death, she helped establish what is now known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, an organisation dedicated to advancing human rights and social justice both in the United States and globally. This initiative exemplified her commitment to continuing her husband’s legacy of advocacy for the underprivileged and disenfranchised.
Throughout her life, Ethel Kennedy faced numerous personal tragedies with remarkable fortitude. She lost her parents and a brother in separate plane crashes, and later endured the premature deaths of two of her sons – David from a drug overdose and Michael in a skiing accident. Despite these heartbreaks, she remained steadfast in her Catholic faith and her dedication to her family and charitable causes.
Known for her vivacious personality and penchant for practical jokes, Ethel Kennedy was a formidable political campaigner in her own right. She was instrumental in urging her husband to run for president and played a significant role in his political career.
In her later years, Ethel Kennedy continued to be an active presence in American public life. In 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, recognising her lifetime of service and advocacy.
