Ethel Kennedy
# Did Ethel Kennedy ever remarry?
Ethel Kennedy, widow of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, has remained unmarried since his assassination on June 5, 1968. Her decision to never remarry is not only significant due to the tragic circumstances of her husband’s death but also reflects the strength of her character and the immense dedication she has shown to her family and the causes close to her heart.
Life Before the Tragedy
Born Ethel Skakel in 1928, she grew up in a wealthy and devout Roman Catholic family in Chicago. Ethel met Robert (Bobby) Kennedy through his sister, Jean, and they quickly became a central couple within the Kennedy political dynasty. The two married in 1950, and over the next 18 years, they had 11 children together. Ethel was a supportive and active partner to Bobby, who served as Attorney General during his brother President John F. Kennedy's administration, and later became a U.S. Senator from New York.
During this period, Ethel was known for her dynamic personality, described as lively, playful, and fiercely devoted to her family. She supported her husband in his political campaigns and was a key figure in the Kennedy family’s public image. Their home, Hickory Hill in McLean, Virginia, was often filled with visitors, including political figures and family members, reflecting the couple’s open, welcoming lifestyle.
The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination was a devastating blow to Ethel and her family. On the night of June 5, 1968, while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bobby was shot by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles. He died the following day, leaving Ethel a widow with their 11 children, the youngest of whom, Rory, was born six months after his death.
At the time of the assassination, Ethel was just 40 years old, raising questions about whether she would eventually remarry. However, she made the decision to remain unmarried, focusing instead on her children and the causes that were important to her and Bobby.
Dedication to Family
Ethel’s commitment to her children was one of the primary reasons she never remarried. With 11 children to care for, she became the matriarch of the Kennedy family, ensuring that her children were raised with the same values of public service, compassion, and resilience that defined the Kennedy legacy. Many of her children went on to pursue public service careers, following in their father’s footsteps. For example, her son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became an environmental activist and lawyer, while her daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend served as the lieutenant governor of Maryland.
Despite the profound challenges of single parenthood, Ethel maintained a strong, loving environment for her children. Her home, like Hickory Hill in the past, remained a gathering place for family and friends. She is often described as a woman of deep faith, and her Catholic beliefs were likely a key factor in her decision to remain single after Bobby’s death. Ethel once remarked that her life was about keeping Bobby’s memory alive for their children and ensuring that his vision for a more just and compassionate world would be carried forward by their family.
Public Life and Activism
Beyond her role as a mother, Ethel Kennedy continued to be a figure of public life, particularly in the realm of human rights and social justice. In 1968, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial (now known as the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization), which advocates for social justice and human rights causes around the world. Through this organization, Ethel has worked to honor her husband’s legacy by supporting causes such as racial justice, workers’ rights, and the fight against poverty.
Although she has never sought political office herself, Ethel has remained politically active, supporting Democratic candidates and causes that reflect the values her husband championed. Her devotion to the Kennedy family’s political legacy is clear, and she continues to be an influential figure within the broader family.
Love and Loyalty
Ethel’s decision not to remarry is often seen as a testament to her love and loyalty to Bobby. She has spoken in interviews about how deeply she admired her husband and how their shared vision for a better world defined their relationship. Their love was built on a mutual commitment to justice and public service, and in many ways, Ethel has continued that mission on her own.
In interviews over the years, those close to her have often remarked on how she kept Bobby’s memory alive within the family. Her home is filled with photographs and memorabilia from his life, and she ensured that their children grew up knowing about their father’s ideals and values. For Ethel, Bobby’s presence has remained a central part of her life, even decades after his death.
Resilience in the Face of Tragedy
The Kennedy family has faced numerous tragedies over the years, often referred to as "the Kennedy curse." In addition to the assassinations of both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, the family has endured other losses, including the death of Ethel’s son, David, in 1984 from a drug overdose, and the tragic plane crash that killed her nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr., in 1999. Through it all, Ethel has remained a figure of strength and resilience, known for her unwavering faith and optimism in the face of adversity.
Her decision not to remarry is seen by many as part of that resilience—a way of honoring the life she shared with Bobby while continuing to live her own life with purpose and dedication to their shared values.
Legacy of Ethel Kennedy
Ethel Kennedy’s life is marked by devotion—to her husband, her children, and the causes she and Bobby believed in. While she never remarried, she has led a life filled with meaning, focused on family, activism, and the legacy of her late husband. Today, she continues to be an important figure in the Kennedy family and in American public life, embodying the values of service, love, and justice that.
# What happened to Robert Kennedy's wife?
After Robert F. Kennedy's assassination in 1968, his wife, Ethel Kennedy, faced an unimaginable tragedy. Left as a widow at just 40 years old with 10 children and pregnant with their 11th, Ethel made the decision to dedicate her life to raising her family and continuing the work she and Bobby had begun. Despite the profound loss, she did not remarry and chose to focus on carrying forward her husband's legacy of public service and justice.
Ethel Kennedy has been widely admired for her strength and resilience in the face of adversity. She went on to establish the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial (now known as the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization) to honor her husband's commitment to social justice. She also raised her children with a strong sense of service, many of whom went on to have careers in public life.
Ethel has endured other personal tragedies, including the loss of her son David to a drug overdose in 1984 and the death of her nephew John F. Kennedy Jr. in a plane crash in 1999. Through it all, she has remained a steadfast figure within the Kennedy family and a symbol of grace, continuing her involvement in charitable and political activities well into her later years.
As of today, Ethel Kennedy remains one of the last living links to the Kennedy dynasty of the 20th century. Despite the heavy burdens she has faced, her dedication to her family and the causes she holds dear has never wavered.
have defined her for decades.
