Kyle Kennedy, the granddaughter of Bobby and Ethel Kennedy, died at her home on Sept. 21. She was 42.
The educator and activist passed away at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts, according to a moving obituary posted online. Her cause of death was not made public.
Kennedy was born on July 6, 1984, in Washington, D.C., to parents Michael and Victoria Denise Gifford.
According to her obituary, Kennedy was devoted to early childhood education. Her work focused on educational reform for disadvantaged children and people with disabilities.
In 2012, she married Liam Kerr, and the couple welcomed three children. Their daughter, Josie, tragically died shortly after she was born. Two years later, the couple welcomed their son, Declan. Kennedy’s obituary refers to Kerr as her “former husband.”
The obituary painted a portrait of a fiercely competitive spirit from an early age.
“Kyle was naturally fast and competitive,” it read.
The tribute went on to recall her childhood, describing how she was often seen outrunning other kids on playgrounds, soccer fields and lacrosse fields. In quieter moments, according to the obituary, she pursued victory with the same intensity in games like Trivial Pursuit and cards.
That drive carried into adulthood.
“As an adult, she developed a passion for long-distance running and in 2019 completed the Boston Marathon in a driving rainstorm, beating her own father’s time by twenty minutes,” the obituary read.
Just a year later, Kennedy’s life changed dramatically. In 2020, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left her with long-term paralysis. In the wake of the injury, she dedicated herself to advocating for people living with disabilities.
Her obituary acknowledged the difficulties she faced in the years after her injury while highlighting the strength and humor she held on to.
“The years that followed brought struggles but Kyle fought to maintain her dry wit and determination through it all, trying to be the best possible mother to her sons and caring for her two beloved, ill-behaved Wheaten terriers,” the obituary read.
Kennedy is survived by her sons, Conor, 12, and Declan, 10. She is also survived by her former husband, Liam; her mother, Victoria; her brother Michael, his wife Mary and their children; and her sister Rory, her husband David and their children.
A private funeral was held.
Kennedy’s death marks another loss for the famed Kennedy family. Her obituary remembered her as a dedicated mother, a passionate advocate for children and people with disabilities, and a determined competitor whose spirit remained intact through the hardships of her final years.
From the soccer and lacrosse fields of her youth to the rain-soaked streets of the Boston Marathon, and later in her work on behalf of those living with disabilities, the tribute portrayed a woman defined by tenacity, wit and devotion to her family.
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