Joan Bennett Kennedy, First Wife of Ted Kennedy, Passes Away at 89

BOSTON, Mass. — Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of Senator Ted Kennedy, died early on October 8, at the age of 89, PEOPLE magazine confirms.

According to an obituary published by PEOPLE, Joan died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Boston. Joan, a skilled classical pianist who held a master’s degree in education, divorced Ted in 1983 but continued to be recognized as the long-suffering spouse of the youngest Kennedy son, whom she was married to for 22 years.

Born on September 2, 1936, in New York City, Joan was raised in the suburbs by a Roman Catholic family. She met Ted Kennedy in 1957, thanks to an introduction by his older sister, while both were students at Manhattanville College. Within a year, they were engaged, despite expressing reservations about marriage. However, Ted’s father, Joe Kennedy, insisted they proceed with the wedding.

The couple tied the knot on November 29, 1958, in Bronxville, New York. They had three children together: Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick. Kara tragically was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002, while Ted Jr. had part of his right leg amputated after a cancer diagnosis. Patrick served as a congressman in Rhode Island for 16 years.

Joan and Ted Kennedy’s marriage faced numerous challenges. A pivotal moment came in July 1969, when Ted was involved in a fatal car crash, leading to the drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne, a passenger. Joan was present at Kopechne’s funeral and stood by Ted when he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the accident.

Throughout their union, Joan endured public humiliation from media reports of Ted’s drinking and infidelities. Describing her life within the Kennedy family as complex, she once shared with PEOPLE how Jackie Kennedy advised her to turn to music for solace. She later admitted to drinking heavily to cope with her struggles.

Joan openly discussed her battle with alcoholism, crediting Alcoholics Anonymous for helping her on her path to sobriety. In interviews, she talked about the difficulty of remaining sober but emphasized the importance of focusing on recovery day by day.

The couple separated in 1978 after years of turmoil, but their divorce wasn’t finalized until after Ted’s unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980. They publicly announced their split in 1981, and the divorce was completed in 1983. Following her divorce, Joan never remarried.

In her later years, Joan led a quiet life in Boston after facing struggles related to alcoholism. Despite her earlier public exploits, she largely stayed out of the spotlight.