Maeve Kennedy McKean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maeve Kennedy McKean
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| Senior Advisor for Human Rights in the United States Department of State's global AIDS program and the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | |
| In office 2009 – 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maeve Fahey Kennedy Townsend
November 1, 1979 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2020 (aged 40) Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
David McKean
(m. 2009) |
| Relations | Kennedy |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | David Townsend Kathleen Kennedy |
| Education | St. Paul's School for Girls |
| Alma mater | Boston College Trinity College Dublin Georgetown University |
| Occupation | Lawyer, public health official, professor |
Maeve Fahey Kennedy McKean (born November 1, 1979 – died April 2, 2020) was an American expert in public health, a lawyer who worked for human rights, and a university teacher. She was a member of the famous Kennedy family. Her mother was Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, and her grandfather was Robert F. Kennedy.
McKean was the leader of the Global Health Initiative at Georgetown University. During the time Barack Obama was president, she became the first-ever Senior Advisor for Human Rights in the United States Department of State's global program for AIDS and at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2020, McKean disappeared while canoeing in the Chesapeake Bay. Her body was found in the Chesapeake Bay a few days later.
Early Life and Schooling
Maeve McKean was the daughter of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who was once the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. Her father was David Lee Townsend, a professor. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and grew up following the Roman Catholic faith. As a member of the Kennedy family, she was a granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy. She was also a grandniece of President John F. Kennedy.
McKean went to elementary and middle schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. She then attended St. Paul's School for Girls for high school, finishing in 1997. She studied at Boston College. While in college, she worked part-time at Bruegger's and Dunkin' Donuts. She also studied abroad at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. In 2009, she earned two degrees from Georgetown University. These were a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Master of Science degree in international negotiations from the Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Career Highlights
McKean volunteered for the Peace Corps in Mozambique. She returned to the United States in 2002. At that time, she worked on her mother's campaign for governor, which was not successful.
During the Obama Administration, she became the first Senior Advisor for Human Rights. This role was part of the United States Department of State's global AIDS program. She also worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In these roles, she led teams that focused on human rights policies. She also worked on health issues for women, children, and the LGBTQ community.
She also worked for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in California and in Washington, D.C.
McKean was a research professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy. She helped start the university's Center for Immigrant, Refugee and Global Health. She also served as the executive director of Georgetown University's Global Health Initiative. At Georgetown, she was an adjunct professor, teaching about bioethics and human rights.
In May 2019, she spoke out against her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.. She disagreed with his organization, Children's Health Defense, for spreading false information about vaccines. In March 2020, she signed a letter with many other public health officials. This letter asked U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to follow scientific advice and provide enough money to fight COVID-19.
Personal Life
Maeve McKean met David McKean in 2003. He was a student at the University of California at Berkeley at the time. They met while she was working for Senator Feinstein in California. They traveled to Asia together, visiting countries like China, Cambodia, and Thailand. They got engaged in 2008.
They married on March 21, 2009, in Washington, D.C. They had three children together. The family lived in Washington, D.C., where both Maeve and David worked as lawyers. Maeve was also the president of the Parent–Teacher Association at Capitol Hill Cluster School, where her children attended.
Disappearance and Tragic Death
On April 2, 2020, Maeve McKean and her eight-year-old son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean, went missing. They were paddling in a canoe near Maeve's mother's home in Shady Side, Maryland.
McKean had taken her family to Maryland to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the Maryland Natural Resources Police said they were trying to get a kickball that had gone into the water. Strong winds pushed them further out into the Chesapeake Bay.
Maeve McKean's body was found on April 6, 2020. Her son's body was found two days later, on April 8. The medical examiner reported that Maeve accidentally drowned in the rough and cold water of the Chesapeake Bay.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a public funeral could not be held. The Kennedy family hosted an online memorial using Zoom on April 11, 2020. It was called A Gathering of Love and Thanksgiving for Maeve and Gideon. Over 3,000 people watched the online service. Musicians like Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, and Kenny Chesney performed during the memorial.
