Ethel Skakel

Ethel Skakel was a member of the prominent Skakel family and the wife of Robert F. Kennedy, a United States Senator from New York and a leading figure in the Democratic Party. She was also the sister of George Skakel and Rushing Skakel, and a cousin of George H.W. Bush through her marriage to a member of the Bush family. Ethel Skakel was known for her strong Catholic Church faith and her involvement in various philanthropic activities, including her work with the Special Olympics and the National Catholic Welfare Conference. Her life was also closely tied to the Kennedy family, including her brother-in-law John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, and her sister-in-law Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics.

● Early Life

Ethel Skakel was born in Chicago, Illinois, to George Skakel and Ann Brannack Skakel, and grew up in a wealthy and influential family. She was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan and later attended the Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, where she studied history and philosophy. During her college years, she was involved in various extracurricular activities, including the Delta Gamma sorority and the Catholic Student Union. Her family was also closely tied to the Vatican, with her uncle, George Skakel, serving as a Knight of Malta. Ethel Skakel's early life was also influenced by her relationships with other prominent families, including the Rockefeller family and the Mellon family.

● Marriage and Family

In 1950, Ethel Skakel married Robert F. Kennedy, a Harvard University graduate and a United States Navy veteran, at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwich, Connecticut. The couple had eleven children together, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph P. Kennedy II, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Her husband, Robert F. Kennedy, was a close advisor to his brother, John F. Kennedy, and later served as the United States Attorney General under Lyndon B. Johnson. Ethel Skakel's family was also closely tied to the McCarthy family, with her sister-in-law, Jean Kennedy Smith, marrying Stephen Edward Smith. Her family's relationships with other prominent families, including the Onassis family and the Auchincloss family, were also significant.

● Philanthropy

Ethel Skakel was a dedicated philanthropist and was involved in various charitable activities throughout her life. She was a strong supporter of the Special Olympics, which was founded by her sister-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She also worked with the National Catholic Welfare Conference and the Catholic Charities USA to support various social and economic development programs. Her philanthropic work was also closely tied to the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Ethel Skakel's commitment to social justice and human rights was also reflected in her support for the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Later Life and Death

In her later years, Ethel Skakel continued to be involved in various philanthropic activities and remained a prominent figure in Washington, D.C. society. She was also a strong supporter of her children's careers, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's gubernatorial campaign in Maryland and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s environmental activism. Ethel Skakel passed away on August 11, 1987, at the age of 71, at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her funeral was attended by various prominent figures, including Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Nancy Reagan. Her legacy continues to be celebrated through the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and the Ethel Skakel Foundation, which support various social and economic development programs around the world, including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization. Category:American philanthropists