All About Ethel Kennedy's 34 Grandchildren — and Why One Called the Late Activist His 'Hero'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ethel Kennedy poses with family backstage at the 22nd annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards.Photo:Amy Sussman/WireImage

Amy Sussman/WireImage

WhenEthel Kennedydied on Oct. 10 at age 96,she left a lasting legacythat her grandchildren can carry on.

Several of her grandkids posted a statement from the family two days before her death with an update on her health, including Joe Kennedy III, who wroteon X(formerly Twitter), “Sharing some news about one of my heroes.”

Most of the couple’s kids went on to have their own, and even though the family grew larger over time, they have continued to share close bonds.

Here’s everything to know about Ethel Kennedy’s grandkids.

Ethel had over 30 grandchildren

Robert Kennedy with his wife, Ethel, and four of their five children.Bettman

Bettman

Ethel’s grandchildren were born into a rich history from her 11 children.

Kathleen and her husband, David Townsend, had four daughters:Meaghan Anne Kennedy Townsend, born Nov. 7, 1977;Maeve Fahey Kennedy McKean, born Nov. 1, 1979, and died April 2, 2020; Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend, born Dec. 17, 1983; and Kerry Sophia Kennedy Townsend, born Nov. 30, 1991.

Joseph and his first wife, Sheila Rauch, had twins Joe Kennedy III and Matthew Rauch Kennedy, born Oct. 4, 1980. Joseph married Beth Kelly in 1993.

Courtney married Paul Hill in 1993. The couple had one daughter, Saoirse Róisín Kennedy Hill, who was born May 22, 1997, anddied Aug. 1, 2019.

Michael married Victoria Gifford in 1981. They had three children: Michael LeMoyne Kennedy Jr., born Jan. 9, 1983; Kyle Francis Kennedy, born July 6, 1984; and Rory Gifford Kennedy, born Nov. 14, 1987. Michael died in a skiing accident in 1997 at age 39.

In 1987, Christopher married Sheila Sinclair Berner, and the couple had four kids: Katherine Berner Kennedy, born in 1990; Christopher George Kennedy Jr., born in 1992; Sarah Louise Kennedy, born in 1994; and Clare Rose Kennedy, born in 1998.

In 1998, Douglas married Molly Stark, and the couple had five children: Riley Elizabeth Kennedy, born in August 1999; Mary McCauley Kennedy, born Aug. 22, 2001; Rowen Frances Kennedy, born in February 2004; George Skakel Kennedy, born in 2007; and Anthony Boru Kennedy, born in 2012.

Rory married Mark Bailey in 1999, and the couple had three kids: Georgia Elizabeth Kennedy-Bailey, born Sept. 30, 2002; Bridget Katherine Kennedy-Bailey, born in July 2004; and Zachary Corkland Kennedy-Bailey, born July 16, 2007.

Ethel instilled strong values in the family

Being a member of the Kennedy family comes with a legacy, including a long tradition of public service.

While she married into the family and lost her husband at a young age, the matriarch of the Kennedy clan carried those values throughout her life.

In 2012, Ethel told PEOPLE, “I hope the children live full and happy livesand that they think about other people and help those that are less fortunate.”

Joe Kennedy III is an accomplished politician

Rep. Joe Kennedy III takes the stage before introducing Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) during her event announcing her official bid for President on February 9, 2019 in Lawrence, Massachusetts.Scott Eisen/Getty

Scott Eisen/Getty

Joe III, son of Joseph II and Sheila Rauch, has followed in his family’s tradition and become a politician.

Joe got his start in politics working on his uncle Sen. Ted Kennedy’s reelection campaign; he waselected to the House of Representativesfor Massachusetts’ 4th district in 2012 and laterran for U.S. Senatein 2020. He still hasn’truled out running for president one day.

“Look, my family means different things to different folks,” Joe toldTown & Countryin 2017. “I think for most people they have very fond memories and believe my family made important contributions to the country. And I happen to believe so too, and I’m grateful when people do mention that and share their stories: ‘I shook your grandfather’s hand,’ or JFK’s hand, or ‘I met your Uncle Teddy.’ ”

On his grandmother’s 95th birthday in April 2023, Joe was with PresidentJoe Bidenwhen he called Ethel to wish her well. At the time, thepair were flying on Air Force Oneen route to Belfast as a part of Joe’s role as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland.

Conor Kennedy dated Taylor Swift

Left: Conor Kennedy attends HBO’s “Ethel” New York Premiere at Time Warner Center on October 15, 2012 in New York City. Right: Taylor Swift attends the Rodarte Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at on September 13, 2011 in New York City.Jason Kempin/Getty ; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

Jason Kempin/Getty ; Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

In 2012, pop superstarTaylor Swift, then 22, and Conor, then 18, briefly dated after she met Ethel and Rory at the Sundance Film Festival earlier that year.

Swift was first spotted with the family at their Fourth of July gathering, and she even bought a home near the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Mass. At the time, Ethel said Swift was “sensational inside and out.”

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

True to the family mission, he hoped the film would inspire younger generations to be more civically engaged. “I just really want to motivate a bunch of young 20- and 30-year-olds to get back into politics right now,” he toldTheDenver Postin 2016.

Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy is an actor

Kick Kennedy attends Maison de Mode’s Sustainable Style Awards.Andrew Toth/Getty

Andrew Toth/Getty

Rather than following the family business of politics, Kick moved to New York in 2012 to pursue an acting career, taking acting classes and landing roles onGossip GirlandThe Newsroom.

The daughter of RFK Jr. and Emily Black, Kick is named afterRFK and JFK’s sisterKathleen “Kick” Kennedy, who broke away from the family to marry William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, in 1944 against her parents’ wishes.

The Kennedy family is Catholic, and Cavendish was Protestant. He was killed just four months after their wedding while serving in World War II. In 1948, the elder Kick died in a plane crash on the way to meet her father in France, having never reconciled with her family.

In 2016, the younger Kick visited the grave of her great-aunt.

“Visiting the gravesite of my great aunt and namesake, Kick Kennedy, in Edensor, England,” she captioned anInstagram photo. “‘Joy she gave, Joy she has found.’ "

Conor is a political activist

Conor Kennedy and Giulia Be attend 2023 Roc Nation The Brunch.Momodu Mansaray/Getty

Momodu Mansaray/Getty

Conorhasn’t served in office, but he haslong been politically active, having been arrested in front of the White House in 2013 for protesting theKeystone XL pipeline.

In 2022, amid the Russian attacks on Ukraine,Conor was inspired to volunteer to fightin the war.

Conor added that he kept his location and real name a secret so he wouldn’t worry his family or receive preferential treatment during his brief stint in Ukraine.

“This war will shape the fate of democracy in this century,” he added. “There’s more to say about its politics and the role of western governments there. For now, I’ll only urge you to help in your personal capacity. Join the legion, help on the border, or send medical supplies. Every day, someone there sacrifices everything for a lasting peace. They can’t be asked to act alone.”

Cara Kennedy-Cuomo graduated from business school

Cara Kennedy Cuomo with family at her graduation.Andrew Cuomo/Instagram

Cara, daughter of Kerry and her ex-husband,Andrew Cuomo,graduated from the Wharton Schoolat the University of Pennsylvania in May 2023.

“So incredibly proud of my oldest, Cara Kennedy Cuomo, who graduated from Wharton Business School yesterday,” Cuomowrote on Instagram. “Such a special day getting to celebrate her incredible accomplishment all together.”

Maeve Kennedy McKean spoke out against her uncle RFK Jr.

Maeve Kennedy McKean attends the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards.Michael Loccisano/Getty

Michael Loccisano/Getty

In 2021, he published a book,The Real Anthony Fauci,criticizing infectious disease expert Dr.Anthony Fauci’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According toThe New York Times, RFK Jr.’s nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, and another organization had paid for more than half of Facebook ads that promoted false claims about vaccines. He was banned from the platform in 2021 for spreading vaccine misinformation.

In May 2019, Maeve, along with her mother Kathleen and her uncle Joseph II, wrote an op-ed forPoliticodenouncing her uncle’s scientifically unfounded vaccine stance.

Max Kennedy Jr. is a whistleblower

Max Kennedy, Jr. speaks onstage during the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards.Michael Loccisano/Getty

He toldTheNew Yorkerthat the team of volunteers, all in their 20s, had no experience in supply operations or the medical field but were tasked with delegating the country’s ​​personal protective equipment using their personal laptops and email addresses.

He also claimed to have faced pressure from higher-ups to misrepresent statistics about projected fatality rates and to prioritize certain hospitals at the request of Trump’s friends and supporters.

After about two weeks, Max sent an anonymous report to Congress detailing his experience on the task force.

“Wewerethe team. We were the entire frontline team for the federal government,” Max told the outletwhen he revealed his identity. “It was the number of people who show up to an after-school event, not to run the greatest crisis in a hundred years.”

He added, “It was such a mismatch of personnel. It was one of the largest mobilization problems ever. It was so unbelievably colossal and gargantuan. The fact that they didn’t want to get any more people was so upsetting.”

Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo is a business owner

Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo attends Governor Cuomo Announcement and Briefing on COVID-19 Response.Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty

Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty

Michaelahas made a name for herself with her brandMic Loves Me. The young entrepreneur sells art, jewelry and other spiritual accessories.

At theRipple of Hope Award Galain December 2022, she metPrince HarryandMeghan Markle, a couple who shedescribed on Instagramas “two of the people whose courage and resilience have inspired me most.”

The couple were at the gala to receive the Ripple of Hope award for their work in racial justice, mental health and other social impact action through their Archewell Foundation. Michaela’s mother, Kerry, presented Harry and Meghan with the award.

Michaela has also been outspoken about being demisexual and advocating for a greater understanding of “the whole spectrum of sexualities,” as she wrote onInstagramin 2021.

Maeve and her son Gideon died in a canoe accident

David McKean, Maeve Kennedy McKean and family attend the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts 2019 Ripple of Hope Gala & Auction.Mike Pont/Getty

Mike Pont/Getty

On April 2, 2020, Maeve and her son Gideonwent missingafter they were involved in a canoe accident.

“God bless Maeve and Gideon, who are up there in heaven with Grandpa, David, Michael, Mary and Saoirse,” Ethel said in a virtual memorial on April 11, referring to other Kennedys who died prematurely. “You have all my love — and you are in my heart and my arms are around you.”

The Kennedy family noted in Ethel’s death announcement that they were “comforted” to think their matriarch was reunited with Maeve and Gideon.

Saoirse Kennedy Hill died at age 22

Saoirse Kennedy.Saoirse Kennedy

Saoirse was staying at her grandmother Ethel’s home in Hyannis Port, Mass., when she died of an accidental drug overdose on Aug. 1, 2019, at age 22.

Saoirse, daughter of Courtney and Paul Hill, was a rising senior studying communications at Boston College. “The world is a little less beautiful today,” Ethel said after her death. “She lit up our lives with her love, her peals of laughter and her generous spirit.”

Inhis eulogy for his niece, her uncleTimothy Shriverspoke about the expansive family’s close relationship. “She was an only child with a hundred brothers and sisters,” he said.

source: people.com