Rory Kennedy mourns niece Kyle, educator and RFK granddaughter, dead at 42

Rory Kennedy has publicly mourned the death of her niece, Kyle Kennedy, an educator and granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who died at age 42. Rory described Kyle as a beloved mother and educator who was "funny and fierce" and will be "deeply missed." Kyle died Sept. 21 at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts, with no cause of death publicly disclosed. She suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2020 causing paralysis, after which she advocated for people with disabilities. Her career included teaching through Teach for America and working in education technology. Kyle is survived by her sons Conor and Declan, and her death follows a history of family tragedies, including her father Michael's 1997 skiing accident and her grandfather Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 assassination. Her daughter Josie died days after birth.