Joan Bennett Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Bennett Kennedy
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Kennedy in 1971
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Virginia Joan Bennett
September 2, 1936 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Manhattanville College Lesley University |
| Political party | Democratic |
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Virginia Joan Kennedy (born September 2, 1936) was the first wife of U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy. Her maiden name was Bennett.
Early Life
Virginia Joan Bennett was born in New York City. She grew up in Bronxville, New York, with her parents and a younger sister named Candace. Her father worked in advertising.
Joan went to Manhattanville College, which was also attended by her future mother-in-law, Rose Kennedy. Later, in 1982, she earned a master's degree in education from Lesley University. When she was a teenager, Joan worked as a model for TV ads.
Marriage and Family
In October 1957, Joan was introduced to Edward Kennedy, also known as Ted. He was the younger brother of Jean Kennedy Smith. Joan and Ted quickly became engaged.
They were married on November 29, 1958, in Bronxville, New York. This small family wedding happened just weeks after Ted's older brother, John F. Kennedy, won his re-election for a U.S. Senate seat.
Joan and Ted Kennedy had three children together:
- Kara Kennedy (born 1960, died 2011)
- Edward M. Kennedy Jr. (born 1961)
- Patrick J. Kennedy (born 1967)
Two of their children faced health challenges. Ted Jr. developed bone cancer at age 12. This led to the removal of part of his right leg in 1973. Kara was treated for lung cancer in 2003. She passed away from a heart attack in 2011.
In 1964, Ted Kennedy was in an airplane crash. He suffered a serious back injury. Joan took over his campaign appearances for his successful re-election to the Senate that year. He had first won a special election in 1962. This was to finish the Senate term of his brother John, who became President in 1960.
In July 1969, Ted Kennedy was involved in a car accident. This happened at a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. Joan attended the funeral of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. She stood by her husband in court when he entered a plea.
Joan and Ted separated in 1978 after twenty years of marriage. They remained together during his 1980 U.S. presidential campaign. They announced plans to divorce in 1981, and their divorce was finalized in 1983.
Later Life
In 1992, Joan Kennedy published a book called The Joy of Classical Music: A Guide for You and Your Family. She is a talented pianist and has taught classical music to children. She has also worked with charities that help children.
Joan Kennedy has faced some health challenges in her later years. In 2004, her son, Ted Jr., became her legal guardian. In 2005, her children were granted temporary guardianship. That same year, she was hospitalized after being found near her home in Boston.
She later agreed to a strict court-ordered guardianship. Her finances are now managed by two court-appointed trustees. She has not remarried. Joan attended Ted Kennedy's funeral in Hyannis Port. As of 2005, she lived in Boston, Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.
Written Works
- Kennedy, Joan Bennett (1992). The Joy of Classical Music: A Guide for You and Your Family. Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, New York. ISBN: 978-0-385-41262-9.
See also
In Spanish: Virginia Joan Bennett Kennedy para niños
