Joan Kennedy, Ex-Wife of Senator Ted Kennedy, Dies at 89: A Life Marked by Tragedy and Resilience

Joan Bennett Kennedy, the ex-wife of late US Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, has died at the age of 89. According to family statements, she passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Boston home. Her passing marks the end of a journey that encompasses her first-hand experience with the glittering yet harsh world of the Kennedy dynasty, heartbreak, addiction, and public scrutiny. As the world mourns the death of Joan, let’s take a look back at the journey through her early years, her marriage and separation, her struggles with alcohol, and the losses she endured before her final years of resilience and quiet strength.Born as Virginia Joan Bennett in 1936, in New York, Joan grew up in a Catholic, reasonably well-off family in Bronxville, New York. She studied at Manhattanville College, where she met Jean Kennedy (sister of Ted Kennedy) and later met Ted himself. She trained as a classical pianist and had a passion for the arts, which would remain a defining trait throughout her life.Joan married Edward “Ted” Kennedy in 1958, joining one of America’s most prominent political dynasties.Joan and Ted’s marriage was far from smooth. From early on, Joan struggled to get acclimatized to the demands, public scrutiny, and internal culture of the Kennedy family. She often felt reserved in a family known for its exuberance and public life.One major turning point came with the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969, when Ted Kennedy’s car plunged off a bridge into the water, killing Mary Jo Kopechne. Ted pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Joan suffered a miscarriage shortly after the incident, which, of course, became a tragic blow in a marriage already under strain.Over time, Ted had multiple affairs, which became public, only intensifying the strain on their marital life. As pressure mounted, by the late 1970s, Joan began publicly acknowledging her struggles with alcoholism. She separated from Ted in 1978, and they divorced in 1982-83 after 24 years of marriage.After the split, Joan relocated to Boston, pursued a Master’s in education (at Lesley University), focused on music and teaching, and worked to rebuild her identity outside the Kennedy shadow.One of the more public and poignant aspects of Joan’s life was her struggle with alcohol addiction throughout her marital life with Ted Kennedy. In 1978, she openly admitted her alcohol dependence, describing how she drank to dampen insecurities, ease social tension, or numb pain. Over the years, she had multiple DUI arrests and spent time in treatment.At times, her health and capacity to live independently became a concern.In later years, her son Ted Kennedy Jr. obtained guardianship over her well-being as she aged. Though she had ups and downs, Joan often spoke of sobriety as “a day at a time” as she worked hard and was determined to rebuild her life.Joan and Ted had three children: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick. However, theirs was far from a happy and fulfilled family.Kara Kennedy died in 2011 of a heart attack, while Ted Jr. faced bone cancer in childhood and lost a leg. However, Ted Jr. went on to build a life as a public figure.Meanwhile, Patrick became a US Congressman and a vocal advocate for mental health, often crediting his mother’s courage as inspiration.Despite being able to embrace motherhood, Joan had her fair share of grief dealing with multiple miscarriages. She endured at least three miscarriages, including one soon after Chappaquiddick.In her later decades, Joan became a supporter of the arts and mental health awareness. She authored The Joy of Classical Music (1992), performing and speaking on the need for people, including children, to access music. She used her own story to destigmatize addiction and encourage recovery.As per reports, Joan died peacefully in her sleep on October 8, at her home in Boston. Her death was confirmed by family and local authorities, and no foul play or dramatic circumstances have been reported.