Joan Kennedy Passes Away at 89

Joan Kennedy, First Wife of Ted Kennedy, Passes Away at 89

Joan Kennedy, who was the first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, has died at the age of 89. Her passing occurred on October 8th while she was “sleeping peacefully at her home” in Boston, Massachusetts, according to an announcement from Massachusetts Democrat Steve Kerrigan.

Joan, a gifted classical pianist with a master’s degree in education, chose not to remarry after her divorce from Ted Kennedy in 1983. In the years leading up to her death, she had kept a low profile away from the public eye.

Born in 1936, Joan met Ted in 1957 through his sister Jean, while both were students at Manhattanville University. They became engaged within a year and were married on November 29, 1958, in Bronxville, New York, where Joan grew up.

The couple had three children—Carla, Ted Jr., and Patrick—during their 22 years of marriage, which included navigating the turmoil and personal tragedies that often accompany a life in the political spotlight.

In July 1969, a tragic accident involving Ted’s car led to the death of passenger Mary Jo Kopechne. Joan stood by her husband during the difficult times following the incident, which included attending Kopechne’s funeral and witnessing Ted’s guilty plea for leaving the scene. This event marked a challenging chapter in their marriage and affected their public image significantly.

In the years that followed, media reports regarding Ted’s struggles with infidelity and alcoholism further complicated Joan’s public life, often overshadowing her own achievements. She was known for her quiet demeanor, which sometimes felt out of place in the loud, high-profile Kennedy family.

Their marriage ultimately ended in the early 1980s, but Joan Kennedy maintained a connection with her former husband, a man who had experienced both privilege and hardship.

According to GoLocalProv, Ted Kennedy Jr. expressed his admiration for his mother, saying she faced challenges with “elegance, courage, humility, and sincerity.” He noted her role as a loving mother and a powerful advocate for mental health, emphasizing the impact she had on many lives. Patrick Kennedy also shared that her absence will be felt not just by the Kennedy family, but also by the broader arts community in Boston.