With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of this elegant woman
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the elegant and resilient first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, has passed away peacefully in her Boston home at the age of 89.
Born in New York City on September 2, 1936, Joan grew up in a devout Catholic family and trained as a pianist, earning a master’s degree in education. Music became her refuge — a lifeline she credited to advice from Jackie Kennedy, who once told her to “turn to the piano” whenever life in the Kennedy spotlight became overwhelming.
Joan met Ted Kennedy in 1957 through his sister Jean while attending Manhattanville College, and they married a year later. Thrust into the public eye as the youngest wife of the youngest U.S. Senator at the time, Joan became part of the famed Kennedy “Camelot” era. The couple had three children: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick. But their lives were far from easy. Ted’s 1969 Chappaquiddick scandal, which claimed the life of Mary Jo Kopechne, left deep emotional scars. Joan stood by her husband publicly while privately navigating immense personal turmoil.
Throughout her life, Joan battled alcoholism with courage and honesty. She entered multiple rehabilitation programs, and at one point, her three children were legally appointed as her guardians to ensure she received proper care. In interviews, she spoke candidly about using alcohol to cope with unhappiness and celebrated her sobriety as a personal triumph: “I’m sober today, and that’s all that matters.”
Even after her 1983 divorce from Ted Kennedy, Joan remained devoted to the family’s legacy. She championed charitable causes, supported arts programs on Cape Cod, and was remembered by her community as warm, kind, and deeply engaged. “She was very kind and very interested in things,” recalled Wendy Northcross of the Kennedy Hyannis Museum.
Life continued to challenge her. The death of her daughter Kara in 2011 from a heart attack at 51 brought profound grief. In later years, Joan lived quietly under the care of guardians as her health declined. Despite these hardships, her legacy of grace, strength, and perseverance endured.
Her children remember her fondly. Patrick Kennedy described Joan as “a loving mother, an amazing musician, and a powerful example for those living with mental health and addiction struggles.” Boston Pops conductor John Williams praised her as “an accomplished pianist with an extraordinary knowledge of classical music.”
