The Kennedy family is in mourning following the death of Joan Kennedy, the first wife of Senator Ted Kennedy, who passed away at the age of 89. Her passing was confirmed by GoLocalProv, which reported she died peacefully in her sleep at her Boston home.
Joan Bennett Kennedy, born Virginia Joan Bennett on September 2, 1936, in New York City, was married to Ted Kennedy for 22 years, during which she navigated significant personal challenges. The couple met in 1957 through Ted’s older sister, Jean Kennedy, while both women were students at Manhattanville College. They wed on November 29, 1958, in Bronxville, New York, and had three children: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick.
Joan’s marriage to Ted was marked by struggles, including her battles with alcoholism and depression, which she later addressed publicly as an advocate for sobriety. She divorced Ted in 1983 but remained associated with his legacy as the “long-suffering wife” of the youngest Kennedy son.
A classical pianist and graduate of Manhattanville College with a master’s degree in education, Joan was described by biographer Adam Clymer as a reserved individual who found it difficult to fit into the high-profile Kennedy family dynamic. She is survived by her two sons, nine grandchildren, and 30 nieces. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.
Ted Kennedy Jr. remembered his mother in a statement, praising her “grace, courage, humility, and honesty” in overcoming personal challenges.
