Known for her grace under pressure and lifelong dedication to family, music, and public service, Joan Bennett Kennedy leaves behind a legacy deeply woven into the fabric of the Kennedy dynasty.
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the former wife of the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and mother to three of his children, has died at the age of 89.
Joan Kennedy smiles as her husband, Senator Ted Kennedy, addresses a crowd of supporters after narrowly winning the Pennsylvania presidential primary in Philadelphia on April 22, 1980. | Source: Getty Images
The Kennedy family matriarch passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Boston on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The news was announced by Steve Kerrigan, chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, on behalf of the Kennedy family.
Joan, a former model, socialite, and accomplished classical pianist, was married to Senator Ted Kennedy for 24 years. The couple shared three children, Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick.
She is survived by her sons Ted Jr. and Patrick, along with nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, more than 30 nieces and nephews, and a sister. Her daughter, Kara, tragically passed away in 2011.
Ted and Joan Kennedy in Boston, Massachusetts, circa November 1962. | Source: Getty Images
Joan first met Ted Kennedy in October 1957 through his sister, Jean. The two had gathered at a gymnasium at Manhattanville College to honor another Kennedy sister, Kathleen, who had died in a plane crash. At the time, Ted was a law student at the University of Virginia.
They fell in love quickly, and a whirlwind romance followed. They got engaged soon after.
Joan and Ted Kennedy after their wedding ceremony at St. Joseph’s Church on November 29, 1958. | Source: Getty Images
Joan formed an early bond with Ted’s mother, Rose Kennedy. They connected over their mutual love for music. Rose initially kept a close eye on Joan’s grades and reputation by calling Manhattanville. Once she was satisfied, their relationship deepened.
Despite the excitement, Joan began having second thoughts before the wedding. They had gotten engaged quickly, and she worried she was marrying someone she barely knew. Her father advised postponing the wedding for a year.
But Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., Ted’s father, insisted the wedding move forward. They were married in Bronxville, New York, on November 29, 1958 — less than a year after they met.
Joan Kennedy in Washington, D.C., on June 6, 1975. | Source: Getty Images
While Joan struggled at times to keep up with the pressures of public life as part of America’s most scrutinized political family, she had many personal triumphs.
She was an accomplished pianist, narrated musical stories such as Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” and published a book titled “The Joy of Classical Music: A Guide for You and Your Family.”
Her later years were devoted to raising money for nonprofit organizations and charities in Boston.
Joan, Richard, Kara, Ted Jr., and Ted Kennedy on November 7, 1979. | Source: Getty Images
Though never drawn to politics herself, Joan supported her husband when he ran in a special Senate election in 1962. She embraced her role as a political spouse, even if reluctantly.
But life in the Kennedy spotlight was far from easy. After the assassinations of Ted’s brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the pressure on Ted to step into a greater public role intensified. At the same time, his personal behavior became more reckless — including publicized affairs and heavy drinking.
Joan, under immense stress, began to struggle with alcohol as well.
Joan and Patrick Kennedy at the funeral of Senator Ted Kennedy on August 29, 2009 at the Mission Church in Boston, Massachusetts. | Source: Getty Images
Despite their personal troubles, she stood by her husband.
In 1969, Ted Kennedy drove off a one-lane bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, a former secretary to Robert F. Kennedy.
Joan was pregnant at the time and on bed rest after suffering two previous miscarriages. Still, she accompanied her husband to Kopechne’s funeral and to court, where he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.
Her loyalty never wavered, even as their marriage unraveled. The couple separated in 1978 and finalized their divorce in 1983. Ted later remarried.
United States Senator Edward Kennedy sits with his wife, Joan, at a John F. Kennedy Library dedication on October 20, 1971. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the hardships, Joan never disappeared from public life. She remained a passionate supporter of the arts and a vocal mental health advocate, drawing from her own battles.
Following news of her death, her sons paid moving tributes to their mother, remembering her strength, grace, and lasting impact.
Ted Jr. said in a statement, “I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty.”
Joan, Ted Jr., and Kara Kennedy on October 4, 1964. | Source: Getty Images
“She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking,” he added.
While Ted Jr. kept his tribute formal, his brother Patrick gave a more personal glimpse into their family life. “Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a powerful example to millions of people with mental health conditions,” Patrick wrote.
“She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched,” he finished his statement.
Joan, Patrick, Kara, Ted Jr., and Ted Kennedy at Boston University on May 23, 1981. | Source: Getty Images
Tributes poured in from across the Kennedy family and beyond. Kerry Kennedy, Joan’s niece, shared a touching tribute along with several family photos.
“Joan Bennett Kennedy was beautiful, chic, caring, and courageous. She was a published author and gifted concert pianist. She brought the joy of music to children by teaching classical music. She was a mental health advocate and supported many nonprofits in Boston,” she wrote. She ended her statement by sharing her love and sympathies to her grieving family members.
Maria Shriver also remembered her aunt, calling her a “beautiful soul” who lived through immense challenges.
“Her life was challenging, but she persevered. As a young girl, I marveled at her grace, her beauty, her elegance. As a woman, I respected her grit, her resilience, her perseverance,” Shriver said.
She closed her message by thanking Joan’s children and grandchildren for the care and love they gave her in her final years.
John Williams, conductor laureate of the Boston Pops, also honored Joan’s legacy in the music world.
“Her dedication to the Boston Pops Orchestra, and especially to the young people of Boston, will have a lasting impact,” he shared. “She will be greatly missed and will always be regarded as a member of our Boston Symphony Family.”
Joan Kennedy on March 14, 1975. | Source: Getty Images
Joan Bennett Kennedy leaves behind a legacy of music, resilience, and devotion — both to her family and the causes she quietly championed throughout her life.
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