Kyle Kennedy, JFK's grandniece, dies at 42

Kyle Kennedy, grandniece of former U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, died at age 42, as confirmed this Tuesday. She passed away on September 21 at her residence in Westwood, Massachusetts, though her family chose to mourn privately. The cause of death was not specified in the obituary from Burke Funeral Home. In 2020, Kennedy suffered a severe spinal cord injury causing permanent paralysis, after which she became an active advocate for disability rights, promoting equitable access to healthcare and services. She was also remembered for her devotion to her children and support for educational reform. Kennedy, a granddaughter of Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy, was one of 34 grandchildren of the late senator and Ethel Kennedy. She earned degrees from Georgetown University, Pace University, and Harvard, and began her career as a teacher with Teach For America in New York City. She is survived by her two children, mother, siblings, and nephews.