The Kennedy family has endured generations of tragic losses, from untimely deaths to fatal accidents.
The most recent loss was Tatiana Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s granddaughter, who died of leukemia on December 30. Her passing revived discussions about the “Kennedy Curse,” a term describing the family’s history of misfortunes through illness, accidents, and violence.
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. dies in WWII — Aug. 12, 1944
Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., eldest son of Joseph Sr. and Rose Kennedy, died at 29 during a covert WWII mission. His Navy bomber exploded mid-flight over the English Channel.
Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy dies in plane crash — May 13, 1948
Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, 28, perished in a plane crash in France. She was traveling with her partner, Earl Peter Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, and two crew members.
Patrick Bouvier Kennedy dies after premature birth — Aug. 7, 1963
Patrick, son of Jacqueline and President John F. Kennedy, lived less than 40 hours after his premature birth. He died months before his father’s assassination.
President John F. Kennedy assassinated — Nov. 22, 1963
President Kennedy, 46, was fatally shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas. Oswald was later killed during a jail transfer. JFK and Jacqueline had four children, including stillborn Arabella and infant Patrick.
Robert F. Kennedy assassinated — June 6, 1968
Robert F. Kennedy, 42, was shot by Sirhan Sirhan after winning California’s 1968 presidential primary. He and wife Ethel had 11 children.
Ted Kennedy and the “Chappaquiddick incident” — July 18, 1969
Ted Kennedy’s car plunged off a Martha’s Vineyard bridge, killing aide Mary Jo Kopechne. He reported the crash 10 hours later, claiming he tried to rescue her. He died in 2009 at 77.
David Anthony Kennedy dies of overdose — April 25, 1984
David, Robert F. Kennedy’s son, died at 28 from a drug overdose in Florida. He struggled with addiction after his father’s assassination.
Michael L. Kennedy dies in skiing accident — Dec. 31, 1997
Michael, another of Robert’s sons, died at 39 after hitting a tree while skiing in Colorado. He was married to Victoria Gifford and had three children.
John F. Kennedy Jr. and wife Carolyn Bessette die in plane crash — July 16, 1999
JFK Jr., 38, his wife Carolyn, 33, and her sister Lauren, 34, died when their plane crashed off Martha’s Vineyard. John was piloting the aircraft.
Kara Kennedy dies of heart attack — Sept. 16, 2011
Ted Kennedy’s daughter, Kara, 51, suffered fatal heart failure at a gym. She had battled lung cancer since 2002.
Mary Richardson Kennedy dies by suicide — May 16, 2012
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s estranged wife Mary, 52, died by suicide in New York during divorce proceedings. She struggled with depression and had four children.
Saoirse Kennedy Hill dies of overdose — Aug. 1, 2019
Saoirse, 22, Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter, died from an accidental drug and alcohol overdose at the family’s Massachusetts compound.
Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and son Gideon drown — April 2, 2020
Maeve, 40—Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter—and her 8-year-old son, Gideon, drowned in Maryland after their canoe overturned in rough waters.
Tatiana Schlossberg dies of cancer — Dec. 30, 2025
Schlossberg, 35, JFK’s granddaughter, succumbed to a rare cancer diagnosed in 2024. Married to George Moran, she left two children. In a 2025 essay, she reflected on her shock at the terminal diagnosis despite her active lifestyle.