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Photos: Ethel Kennedy through the years
New Jersey

Photos: Ethel Kennedy through the years

Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert F. Kennedy, mother of 11 children and social activist, has died at the age of 96.

She spent more than half of her long life in the public spotlight as a devoted wife, mother and outstanding social activist, raising awareness of and funding causes such as human rights, poverty and gun control. The public also watched as she endured the crushing grief of too many deaths at too young an age: from the assassinations of Robert F. and John F. Kennedy to the accidental deaths of her parents and brother; and the children, nephews and grandchildren who died before their time.

Here are photos from her 70+ years in the spotlight.


Robert Kennedy and his wife Ethel Kennedy aboard the French liner Ile de France in 1955. (John Lent/AP)
Robert Kennedy and his wife Ethel Kennedy aboard the French liner Ile de France in 1955. (John Lent/AP)
The Robert F. Kennedy family takes a walk at the Kennedy home in McLean, Virginia, on December 30, 1959. From left: Mrs. Ethel Kennedy; Courtney, 3; Kathleen, 8; Joseph Patrick, 7; Robert Kennedy with one and a half year old Michael on his back; Bobby, 5; and David, 4. (Henry Griffin/AP)
The Robert F. Kennedy family takes a walk at the Kennedy home in McLean, Virginia, on December 30, 1959. From left: Ethel Kennedy; Courtney, 3; Kathleen, 8; Joseph Patrick, 7; Robert Kennedy with one and a half year old Michael on his back; Bobby, 5; and David, 4. (Henry Griffin/AP)
In this December 1960 file photo, then-President-elect John F. Kennedy, standing center, is surrounded by members of his family at his parents' home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Standing left to right are Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert Kennedy; Steven Smith and wife Jean Kennedy Smith; Robert Kennedy; Patricia Kennedy Lawford; Sargent Shriver, Joan Kennedy, wife of Edward Kennedy; and Peter Lawford. Foreground, left to right: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Joseph P. Kennedy and his wife Rose Kennedy seated in front; Jacqueline Kennedy; and Edward Kennedy. (AP photo)
In this December 1960 photo, then-President-elect John F. Kennedy stands center and is surrounded by members of his family at his parents’ home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. From left to right is Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert Kennedy; Steven Smith and wife Jean Kennedy Smith; Robert Kennedy; Patricia Kennedy Lawford; Sargent Shriver, Joan Kennedy, wife of Edward Kennedy; and Peter Lawford. Foreground, left to right: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Joseph P. Kennedy and his wife Rose Kennedy seated in front; Jacqueline Kennedy; and Edward Kennedy. (AP photo)
Ethel Kennedy speaks with Keizo T. Takahashi, the master of ceremonies during her appearance on the TV show in Japan on February 5, 1962 in Tokyo. J On the left is interpreter Kumiko Takeuchi. (AP photo)
Ethel Kennedy speaks with Keizo T. Takahashi, the master of ceremonies, during her appearance on a television program in Japan on February 5, 1962 in Tokyo. On the left is the interpreter Kumiko Takeuchi. (AP photo)
Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy waves shortly after announcing that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate from New York. On the right is his wife Ethel. Kennedy made the announcement on August 25, 1964 at the Gracie Mansion in New York, the official residence of New York City Mayor Robert Wagner. (AP photo)
Robert F. and Ethel Kennedy shortly after announcing that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1964. (AP photo)
Senator Robert F. Kennedy speaks to campaign aides minutes before his assassination in 1968. (AP photo)
Robert F. Kennedy speaks to campaign aides minutes before his assassination in 1968. (AP photo)
Edward M. Kennedy with Ethel Kennedy and others at Los Angeles airport, June 6, 1968, as they depart with the body of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. (Harold Filan/AP)
Edward M. Kennedy with Ethel Kennedy and others at Los Angeles airport, June 6, 1968, as they depart with the body of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. (Harold Filan/AP)
Senator Edward Kennedy accompanies Ethel Kennedy to her pew at Senator Robert F. Kennedy's memorial service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York on June 8, 1968. (AP Photo)
Edward Kennedy accompanies Ethel Kennedy to her pew at Robert F. Kennedy’s memorial service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, June 8, 1968. (AP Photo)
Ethel Kennedy, brother-in-law of Edward Kennedy, and her children leave St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York after the funeral of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. (AP Photo)
Ethel Kennedy, brother-in-law Edward Kennedy and their children leave St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York after the funeral of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. (AP Photo)
A joyful and proud Ethel Kennedy introduces her newborn daughter Rory to Elizabeth Catherine, her eleventh child. With her is her brother-in-law, Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. (AP photo)
A joyful and proud Ethel Kennedy introduces her newborn daughter Rory to Elizabeth Catherine, her eleventh child. With her is her brother-in-law, Edward M. Kennedy. (AP photo)
Ethel Kennedy smiles at the Forest Hills tennis games in 1972. (Ray Howard/AP)
Ethel Kennedy smiles at the Forest Hills tennis games in 1972. (Ray Howard/AP)
Ethel Kennedy, some of her children, sit in a car outside Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., on the day of her daughter Kathleen's wedding to David Townsend in 1973. (AP Photo)
Ethel Kennedy and several of her children sit in a car outside Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., on the day of her daughter Kathleen’s wedding to David Townsend in 1973. (AP Photo)
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, left, widow of the late president. John F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy listen to a speech by President Reagan during a fundraiser for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library in 1985. (Charles Tasnadi/AP)
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, widow of the late President John F. Kennedy, and Ethel Kennedy listen to a speech by President Reagan during a fundraiser for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library in 1985. (Charles Tasnadi/AP)
Ethel Kennedy and Santa Claus meet with children at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation skating rink in Brooklyn, New York City, Saturday, December 13, 1986, during the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Skating Party for underprivileged children. (Rick Maiman/AP)
Ethel Kennedy and Santa Claus meet with children at the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation skating rink in Brooklyn during the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Skating Party for underprivileged children in 1986. (Rick Maiman/AP)
Senator Edward Kennedy, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Bill Clinton and Ethel Kennedy listen to a memorial speech by Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II during a memorial mass honoring Robert F. Kennedy on the 25th anniversary of his death in 1993. (Marcy Nighswander/AP)
Senator Edward Kennedy, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, President Bill Clinton and Ethel Kennedy listen to a memorial speech by Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II during a memorial mass honoring Robert F. Kennedy on the 25th anniversary of his death in 1993. (Marcy Nighswander/AP)
U.S. Representative John Lewis speaks to those gathered, including Ethel Kennedy and Rev. Jesse Jackson, on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in 2012, 47 years after the historic march that led to the Voting Rights Act. (Kevin Glackmeyer/AP)
U.S. Representative John Lewis speaks to those gathered, including Ethel Kennedy, on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in 2012, 47 years after the historic march that led to the Voting Rights Act. (Kevin Glackmeyer/AP)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Kyra Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, Ethel Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Mark Bailey and Conor Kennedy attend the premiere of the HBO documentary "Ethel"in 2012. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Kyra Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith, Ethel Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Mark Bailey and Conor Kennedy attend the premiere of the HBO documentary “Ethel” in 2012. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ethel Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy and Mariah Kennedy Cuomo in 2013. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Ethel Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy and Mariah Kennedy Cuomo in 2013. (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
President Barack Obama awarded Ethel Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
President Obama awarded Ethel Kennedy the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
Ethel Kennedy and daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in 2016. (Elise Amendola/AP)
Ethel Kennedy and daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in 2016. (Elise Amendola/AP)
Ethel Kennedy holds hands with grandson Joseph P. Kennedy III (left) while Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus chats with her daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as they pose near a 2016 depiction of the Navy ship Robert F. Kennedy. (Elise Amendola/AP)
Ethel Kennedy holds hands with grandson Joseph P. Kennedy III (left) while Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus chats with her daughter Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as they pose near a 2016 depiction of the Navy ship Robert F. Kennedy. (Elise Amendola/AP)
Robert and Ethel Kennedy at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural ball in 1961. (AP Photo)
Robert and Ethel Kennedy at President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball in 1961. (AP Photo)

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