Joan Bennett Kennedy, the elegant and resilient first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, has died peacefully in her sleep at her Boston home.
She was 89.
Behind the polished family portraits
Known for her grace under the glare of one of America’s most famous families, Joan’s life was marked by both immense privilege and heartbreaking struggle.
A classically trained pianist with a master’s degree in education, she once told People she found comfort in music — a lesson she said came from Jackie Kennedy herself, who advised her to “turn to the piano” when life within the Kennedy dynasty became too heavy to bear.
Born on September 2, 1936, in New York City, Joan grew up in a devout Catholic family and met Ted Kennedy in 1957 through his sister Jean while the two women attended Manhattanville College. The couple married a year later, in 1958, and Joan soon found herself thrust into the heart of Camelot — the youngest wife of the youngest U.S. Senator in American history. Sen. Ted Kennedy was once expected to become the president of the United States.
Together, they had three children: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick. But behind the polished family portraits and public smiles, their marriage was haunted by tragedy and turmoil.
Ted’s 1969 Chappaquiddick scandal, which left young campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne dead, changed their lives forever. Joan stood by Ted through the scandal and public humiliation, but her quiet loyalty came at a devastating personal cost.
Battling alcoholism
Over the years, Joan battled alcoholism — a struggle she faced publicly with remarkable honesty. She entered multiple rehab programs over the years, following several arrests related to drunk driving.
Her three children became her temporary guardians, assigned the task of ensuring that her alcoholism is treated.
“At times I drank to block out unhappiness,” she admitted in a 1978 interview.
Yet she later embraced sobriety, telling People, “I’m sober today, and that’s all that matters.”
Even after she and Ted divorced in 1983, Joan remained a Kennedy in spirit — supporting the family’s charitable work, music programs, and Cape Cod’s arts scene. Locals remembered her as warm, gracious, and deeply involved in her community.
“She was very kind and very interested in things,” Wendy Northcross of the Kennedy Hyannis Museum told Cape Cod Times.
Retreated from the public eye
But life continued to test her strength. Her daughter, Kara, died of a heart attack in 2011 at just 51, a loss Joan described as “gutting.” She later retreated from the public eye, living quietly in Boston under a guardian’s care as her health declined.
Patrick Kennedy called his mother “a loving mother, an amazing musician, and a powerful example for those living with mental health and addiction struggles.”
John Williams, the legendary Boston Pops conductor, remembered her as “an accomplished pianist with an extraordinary knowledge of classical music.”
Joan Bennett Kennedy’s story is one of beauty, endurance, and heartbreak — a woman who lived in the shadows of power but never lost her quiet grace.
She is survived by her sons Ted Kennedy Jr. and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, her sister Candace McMurrey, several grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
A funeral Mass will be held October 15 in Boston, with a private burial to follow — marking the final chapter in the life of a woman who lived, loved, and endured under the weight of American legend.
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