Kyle Francis Kennedy, an education and disability-rights advocate and a member of one of America’s best-known political families, has died. She was 42, and a granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel Kennedy. ctvnews
What is known about her death
She died on September 21, according to the town clerk in Westwood, Massachusetts, where she lived, and an obituary published by a funeral home. The news became public weeks later. Her cause of death has not been disclosed. ctvnewsThe Hill
Her career and advocacy
After college, Kennedy joined Teach for America and worked as a teacher in New York City, according to an obituary written by her family. She later became an education advocate who worked with technology companies focused on improving school curricula. She graduated from Georgetown University and earned advanced degrees from Pace University and Harvard. She was a passionate advocate for more equitable elementary education and charter schooling. Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter Kyle Francis Kennedy dies +2
Her disability advocacy
Kennedy was a long-distance runner and ran the Boston Marathon in 2019, but a year later she suffered a severe spinal cord injury that resulted in long-term paralysis, according to her family. She became an advocate for people living with disabilities, including testifying at the Massachusetts State House during a hearing on discrimination against people with disabilities in healthcare. ctvnewsThe Hill
Her family
She was the daughter of Michael Kennedy, the sixth of Robert and Ethel’s 11 children, and Victoria Denise Gifford, whose father was NFL legend Frank Gifford. Her father was killed in a skiing accident in Colorado on New Year’s Eve 1997, at age 39. She was also the niece of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She had two sons with her former husband. Robert F. Kennedy’s Granddaughter Kyle Kennedy Dead at 42 +3
Her family’s legacy
The Kennedy family has long been known for public service and for tragedy. Her grandfather, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in Los Angeles in 1968 after winning California’s Democratic presidential primary. ctvnews
Bottom line
Kyle Kennedy spent her life as a teacher and an advocate for students and for people with disabilities. She is remembered for that work, and her family has asked that people respect their privacy.
