Joan Kennedy is seen walking alongside Senator Edward Kennedy at an airport in Moscow, Russia, on April 18, 1974. | AP
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the former wife of Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy and one of the last living members of America’s most famous political family, has died at 89. Her life combined beauty, talent, tragedy, and courage, as she navigated the challenges of public life, family loss, and her own personal battles.
Born Virginia Joan Bennett in Bronxville, New York, she came from a respected family and showed talent as a pianist from a young age. While studying at Manhattanville College, she met Ted Kennedy through his sister Jean, her classmate. Ted was immediately drawn to her charm and grace, and they married in 1958.
Life in the Kennedy Circle
When Joan married into the Kennedy family, she entered a world of politics, power, and constant attention. Her brother-in-law John F. Kennedy became president in 1960, only to be assassinated three years later. Then Robert F. Kennedy followed him into politics and met the same fate in 1968.
Ted Kennedy began his own Senate career, becoming a major political figure, but his personal life often overshadowed his accomplishments. The 1969 Chappaquiddick accident, where his car plunged off a bridge, killing Mary Jo Kopechne, haunted both his career and marriage. Joan stood beside him during the crisis but suffered a miscarriage soon after. Their relationship slowly fell apart, and they divorced after years of separation.
During Ted’s 1980 presidential campaign, their split became a public topic. One bumper sticker from that time read, “Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy.”
A Love for Music and the Arts
Music remained Joan’s greatest comfort. A gifted pianist, she often opened her husband’s campaign rallies by playing patriotic songs. Even after their marriage ended, she toured internationally, performing and speaking about the importance of music and arts education.
In a 1992 interview, she shared how music helped her cope with loss. “I do advise listening to music when you’re in grief,” she said. “Music has given me a lot of courage to carry on.”
She later wrote a book encouraging people to appreciate classical music, combining her love of art with her message of emotional healing.
Courage in the Face of Adversity
Behind her elegance, Joan faced immense challenges. She struggled for years with alcoholism and depression, at a time when few women spoke openly about such issues. After several treatment programs and a few health scares, her children stepped in to ensure her care.
Her son, former congressman Patrick Kennedy, called her “a power of example to millions of people with mental health conditions.” Ted Kennedy Jr. added, “She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking.”
Maria Shriver, her niece, praised her for her strength, writing, “Her life was challenging, but she persevered. I marveled at her grace, her beauty, her resilience.”
A Lasting Legacy
Joan Kennedy’s story is one of dignity through hardship. She lived through unimaginable loss but never lost her compassion or love of music. She is survived by her sons, nine grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.
