Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and a fierce human rights advocate, has died after suffering a stroke on Thursday, a family member confirmed to CBS News. She was 96 years old.
She suffered a stroke in her sleep on Oct. 3, her grandson Joe Kennedy III posted on X earlier this week. He described his “incredible grandmother” as a “strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life.”
In a post Thursday, he wrote, “It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She died this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week. Along with a lifetime’s work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly.”
Ethel Skakel Kennedy was born in Chicago in 1928 and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her father built a successful coal business, making the family wealthy. She was just 17 years old when she met her future husband, Bobby Kennedy, who was dating her sister Patricia at the time.
Ethel and Bobby married on June 17, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Greenwich. Passionate about public service, the couple campaigned for Bobby’s brother, John F. Kennedy, in his 1960 run for the presidency. Bobby Kennedy served as attorney general in his brother’s administration.
After JFK’s assassination in 1963, she continued to support Bobby as he pursued his political career. He was a leading contender for the White House when he was shot and killed by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles in June 1968.
After her husband’s death, in addition to her work at the human rights center, Ethel Kennedy co-chaired the Coalition of Gun Control and was involved with many other human rights organizations.
President Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White House in 2014, where she was praised for her perseverance and generosity. “She’s gone to extraordinary lengths to build support for causes close to her heart,” Obama said at the ceremony.
Ethel Kennedy is survived by nine of her children and a large extended family, many of whom are also involved in public life. Her son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president in 2024, dropping out in August to support former President Donald Trump.
Below is a selection of 20 vintage photos of a young Ethel Kennedy in the 1960s and 1970s:
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