Kyle Kennedy, Granddaughter of Robert F Kennedy, Dies Aged 42
Kyle Kennedy, a member of America's well-known Kennedy family, has died. The granddaughter of Robert F Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy was 42 years old.
According to an obituary published on behalf of the family, she passed away peacefully on 21 September at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts. The obituary was published by Burke Funeral Homes.
Her cause of death has not yet been determined. The Westwood town clerk said the cause of death is still pending.
Kyle Kennedy was the daughter of Michael Kennedy, who died in 1997, and Victoria Gifford Kennedy.
Born on 6 July 1984 in Washington DC, Kyle spent much of her upbringing in Cohasset, Massachusetts, where she grew up.
By profession she was an educator and education reform advocate. Her obituary said she was dedicated to early childhood education, worked on educational reform for disadvantaged children, and later advocated for people living with disabilities.
After graduating from college, she taught in public schools in New York City through the Teach for America programme. She earned a bachelor's degree in history from Georgetown University, a master of science in early education from Pace University, and a master of education in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
She was also an avid sports player and long-distance runner. In 2019 she ran the Boston Marathon in a driving rainstorm, finishing the race 20 minutes faster than her father had.
In 2020, however, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury. According to her obituary, the injury resulted in long-term paralysis, disability and other medical challenges.
Her obituary said her final years brought struggles, but that she fought to maintain her dry wit and determination through it all, trying to be the best possible mother to her sons.
During this time she began advocating for people with disabilities, including testifying at the Massachusetts state house in a hearing on discrimination in disabled health care.
In August 2012 she married Liam Kerr in Boston, and they had three children — Conor, Josie and Declan. The obituary refers to Kerr as Kyle's former husband.
She is survived by her sons Conor, 12, and Declan, 10; her former husband Liam; her mother Victoria; her brother Michael; her sister Rory; and her nieces and nephews McKie, Quinn, Jack and Caleb.
The Kennedy family has long been a prominent name in American politics, and the early death of a member of its younger generation has cast a shadow of grief over the family and its well-wishers.
