Kyle Kennedy, granddaughter of Robert F Kennedy, dies aged 42

Kyle Kennedy, granddaughter of Robert F Kennedy, dies aged 42

The full report

Kyle Kennedy, the granddaughter of Robert F Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, has died at the age of 42. According to her obituary published by Burke Funeral Homes, Kyle passed away peacefully on 21 September at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts. The cause of death is pending, as reported by the Westwood town clerk to The Guardian.

Born on 6 July 1984 in Washington DC, Kyle Kennedy spent much of her upbringing in Cohasset, Massachusetts, before pursuing a career as an educator. Her obituary noted she was dedicated to early childhood education and worked on educational reform for disadvantaged children and later advocated for people living with disabilities.

She taught in public schools in New York City in the program Teach for America after graduating college, where she had earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Georgetown University, a master of science in early education from Pace University, and a master of education in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In August 2012, she married Liam Kerr in Boston, with whom she had three children – Conor, Josie and Declan. The obituary refers to Kerr as Kyle’s “former husband”. An avid sports player and long-distance runner, Kyle ran the 2019 Boston Marathon in a “driving rainstorm”, finishing the race 20 minutes faster than her father. A year later, she suffered a severe spinal cord injury that “resulted in long term paralysis, disability, and other medical challenges”.

Kyle is survived by her sons, Conor, 12, and Declan, 10; her former husband, Liam; her mother, Victoria; her brother Michael; sister Rory; and her nieces and nephews McKie, Quinn, Jack and Caleb.