Joan B. Kennedy, former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, has died at 89. Her life was defined by the public struggles of the Kennedy family, her husband's infidelities, and her private battles with alcoholism and mental health, yet she found solace and purpose through her classical piano talent.
Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, passed away at 89. Her marriage to Ted Kennedy was fraught with challenges, including the assassinations of brothers-in-law President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, her husband's public infidelities, and her personal, decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health. A classically-trained pianist and former model, Joan met Ted in 1957 and married him in 1958. She endured the Chappaquiddick scandal, where Ted Kennedy's car plunged off a bridge, killing his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, and stood by him through the fallout. Despite having three children with Ted, she also experienced miscarriages, including one shortly after Chappaquiddick. The couple's estrangement became undeniable during Ted's unsuccessful 1980 presidential primary bid, leading to their separation and eventual divorce. Joan, who struggled to fit into the high-powered Kennedy family, channeled her passion for music throughout her life. She often opened her husband's rallies with piano serenades and, post-divorce, toured globally, advocating for arts education. She found immense courage and solace in music during profound grief, including the deaths of Jack and Bobby, her son Ted Jr.'s battle with cancer, and her divorce. Her son, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, lauded her courage and talent.
