Senator Kennedy

There’s a lot happening all around the world today - good and bad, mundane and important. But here in our home in Central Massachusetts we are mourning the passing of one of our own: Senator Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009). Ted Kennedy was the only one of the four sons of Joseph and Rose Kennedy to grow older and snowy haired before our eyes. His eldest brother Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr. was killed in action in World War II. His next eldest brother President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. His next eldest brother Senator Robert Francis Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

The Bible verse: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” (Luke 12:48) was quoted and paraphrased by the Kennedy’s and were words they lived by. Ted Kennedy made those words manifest in his service to the Commonwealth and to the entire United States during his nearly 47 years as a senator from Massachusetts. Ted served proudly as a Democrat, a progressive, and a liberal. He spoke for all of us, but most especially he spoke for those without power or privilege. He cared about equality, fairness and justice and kept those values in the forefront of all of his political work.

Senator Kennedy is survived by his sister Jean Kennedy Smith; his wife Victoria Reggie Kennedy; his children Kara Anne, Edward Jr. and Patrick Kennedy; his step-children Curran and Caroline Raclin; his grandchildren; his nieces and nephews; the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; the citizens of the United States of America; and the citizens of the world.


“...the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives & the dream shall never die.”
- Senator Ted Kennedy at the 1980 Democratic Convention


“The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.”
- Senator Ted Kennedy at the 2008 Democratic Convention