Kyle Kennedy, the granddaughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, has died at just 42.
Kennedy died on Sep. 21 at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts — six years after a spinal cord injury which left her with long-term paralysis.
“The years that followed brought struggles but Kyle fought to maintain her dry wit and determination through it all, trying to be the best possible mother to her sons and caring for her two beloved, ill-behaved Wheaten terriers,” her touching obituary read.
Kyle Kennedy Kerr speaks onstage during the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple Of Hope Awards in New York City, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Her cause of death remains unknown and she was remembered at a private funeral.
Kennedy was predeceased by her father, Michael, who died in 1997 after he hit a tree in a tragic skiing accident.
She also lost her infant daughter, Josie — the twin sister of her son Conor, now 12 — who died “after a few short days of life.”
Kennedy is survived by her sons Conor and Declan, 10, her mother, Victoria, brother, Michael, and ex-husband, Liam.
She was one of 34 grandchildren of Bobby and Ethel and dedicated her life to early childhood education and served as an advocate for people living with disabilities.
After acquiring her Master of Education from Harvard University, Kennedy joined Teach for America and taught for two years in the New York City public school system.
Along with her work in schools, Kennedy was also an avid runner and completed the Boston Marathon in 2019 — even beating her father’s own time by 20 minutes.
Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel Skakel leave a church following their wedding in Greenwich, Connecticut, June 17, 1950. Bettmann Archive
The following year, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury that “resulted in long term paralysis, disability, and other medical challenges.”
Despite the hardships, Kennedy pushed forward and became an advocate for people living with disabilities.
Her advocacy eventually took her to the Massachusetts State House to testify in a hearing on discrimination in disabled health care.