Joan Bennett Kennedy, the graceful and strong first wife of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, peacefully passed away at her Boston home at the age of 89.
Born in New York City on September 2, 1936, Joan was raised in a devout Catholic family and trained as a pianist, later earning a master’s degree in education. Music became her sanctuary—a source of comfort she attributed to advice from Jackie Kennedy, who encouraged her to “turn to the piano” whenever the pressures of life in the Kennedy spotlight grew overwhelming.
Joan met Ted Kennedy in 1957 through his sister Jean while attending Manhattanville College, and they married the following year. As the youngest wife of the youngest U.S. Senator at the time, Joan stepped into the public eye during the famed Kennedy “Camelot” era. The couple had three children: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick. Their lives were marked by challenges, including the 1969 Chappaquiddick scandal involving Ted, which deeply affected the family. Joan stood by her husband publicly while privately facing significant emotional struggles.
Throughout her life, Joan fought alcoholism with bravery and openness. She underwent 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 was candid about her use of alcohol to manage her unhappiness and celebrated her sobriety as a major personal victory: “I’m sober today, and that’s all that matters.”
