Ethel Kennedy

 

Ethel Kennedy, Widow of Robert F. Kennedy and Sister-In-Law of President John F. Kennedy, has died. She was 96 years old.

Ethel Kennedy was born Ethel Shakel on April 11, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois and was the 6^th of 7 Children.

Ethel was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut and attended the All-Girls Greenwich Academy, and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the Bronx in 1945.

In September 1945, Ethel began her College Education at Manhattanville College, where she was a Classmate of her future Sister-in-Law Jean Kennedy.

Ethel first met Jean's Brother, Robert F. Kennedy, during a ski trip to Mont Tremblant Resort in Quebec in December 1945.

She received a Bachelor's Degree from Manhattanville in 1949.

Robert and Ethel were married in February 1950.

After Robert graduated from Law School, the Family settled in the Washington, D.C. area and Robert went to work for the Justice Department.

In 1956, the Kennedys purchased Hickory Hill from Robert's brother John and his Wife Jacqueline.

The 13-bedroom Estate was situated on 6 Acres in McLean, Virginia (west of Washington, D.C.).

 Ethel sold Hickory Hill in December 2009.

In 1960, Ethel's Brother-in-Law John F. Kennedy won the Presidential Election, at which time he appointed Robert to the post of Attorney General.

On November 22, 1963, Ethel learned of her Brother-in-Law’s assassination from her Husband after the FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, called their home.

In 1964, Ethel supported her Husband while he campaigned for and won a seat in the United States Senate representing New York.

She urged her Husband to enter the Democratic Primary for the 1968 Presidential Election.

She was with her Husband on June 5, 1968 when he was assassinated, by Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Robert Kennedy was buried close to his Brother John at Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert and Ethel Kennedy had 11 Children over nearly 18 years of Marriage: Kathleen, Joseph, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Maxwell, Douglas, and Rory (who was born 6 months after Robert was assassinated.)

Kahleen served as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003.

Joseph served as a Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1999.

Robert Jr. ran for President in the 2024 until dropping out.

David died in 1984.

Michael died in 1997.

Kerry is the President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Center.

Ethel Kennedy founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (now known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights) in 1968.

Since the 1968 she not only raised her 11 Children by herself, but also worked on different Social Causes.

In 2014, Ethel was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

On October 8, 2024, Kennedy was hospitalized after suffering a Stroke.

Ethel Kennedy died October 10, 2024 at the age of 96.