BOSTON (AP) — Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, has been hospitalized following a stroke, as confirmed by her family.
In a statement shared on X by her daughter Kerry Kennedy on Tuesday night, the family revealed that Ethel experienced the stroke on Thursday morning while she was asleep. She was promptly taken to a hospital for treatment and is currently resting comfortably, although the specific hospital’s name and location were not disclosed.
The family reassured the public, stating, “She is comfortable, receiving the best care possible, and is surrounded by family.” They highlighted her strength, noting, “She is, as you know, a strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life. We are looking after her.”
At 96 years old, Ethel is among the last surviving members of her generation from the prominent Kennedy family, which includes President John F. Kennedy.
According to the family’s statement, “She has had a wonderful summer and is transitioning into fall well,” enjoying numerous moments with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The family described cherished experiences together, stating, “She was able to get out on the water, visit the pier, and have many lunches and dinners with family. It has been a gift for all of us and for her as well.”
Ethel Kennedy stood by her husband Robert during his tragic assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, shortly after he won the Democratic primary in California. This event occurred less than five years after the assassination of her brother-in-law, President John F. Kennedy, in Dallas.
In 1968, Ethel founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, which focuses on promoting human rights through initiatives in advocacy, litigation, and education. The nonprofit organization also honors those who significantly contribute to human rights with annual awards for journalists, authors, and activists. Additionally, Ethel was involved with various causes, including the Coalition for Gun Control, the Special Olympics, and the Earth Conservation Corps.
Even in her 90s, she remained politically and socially active, participating in a 2016 protest advocating for higher wages for farmworkers in Florida and a hunger strike in 2018 against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Ethel balances her time between residences in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida.
For many Americans, the Kennedy family represents a sense of American royalty, rooted in the ideals and hopes of the JFK era—often referred to as “Camelot”—which was characterized by the vibrant leadership and charisma of John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline.
