Born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Ancestors 
Daughter of Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr.
and Rose Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) Kennedy
Sister of
Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Rose Marie Kennedy, Kathleen Agnes (Kennedy) Cavendish, Eunice Mary (Kennedy) Shriver, Patricia (Kennedy) Lawford, Robert Francis Kennedy and Edward Moore Kennedy
Wife of
Stephen Edward Smith
— married
19 May 1956 in New York, New York
Mother of
[private son (1950s - unknown)], [private daughter (1960s - unknown)] and [private daughter (1970s - unknown)]
Died
at age 92
in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 26 May 2011
This page has been accessed 1,408 times.
Biography
Jean (Kennedy) Smith is Notable.
She was born in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA on 20 Feb 1928, which was her elder sister Kathleen's eighth birthday. Jean was the youngest daughter of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. She was the eighth of nine children and was the last surviving and longest-lived sibling.
She graduated from Manhattanville College in 1949.
Jean Ann Kennedy married on 19 May 1956 at St.Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, New York, USA to businessman, Stephen "Steve" Edward Smith (1956-1990). They had 2 biological sons and later adopted 2 daughters.
She was intricately involved with the political career of her older brother, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who became an American President.
Her eldest son, Stephen Edward Smith, died of cancer on 19 Aug 1990.
She was an activist, humanitarian, author and American diplomat.
In 1993 President Bill Clinton appointed her the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland and she served until 04 July 1998.
Also in 1998 the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, conferred honorary Irish citizenship on Jean, in recognition of her service to the country.
In February 2011, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, for her work with people with disabilities.
In October 2016 she published "The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy, a memoir of the Kennedy clan".
She passed away @92 on 17 June 2020 at her home in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
Sources
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/211984295/jean-ann-smith : accessed 06 October 2021), memorial page for Jean Ann Kennedy Smith (20 Feb 1928–17 Jun 2020), Find a Grave Memorial ID 211984295, ; Maintained by Find a Grave Cremated.
Acknowledgements
- Kennedy-1010 was created on 08 Sep 2013 by Gilly Wood
Is Jean your relative? Please don't go away!
Login to collaborate or comment, or
ask our community of genealogists a question.
Login to collaborate or comment, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA
No known carriers of Jean's DNA have taken a DNA test.
No known carriers of Jean's DNA have taken a DNA test.
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
- Jean Kennedy Smith has died Jun 18, 2020.
Rejected matches › Ann (Kennedy) Steber (abt.1784-abt.1845) › › Emma Jean (Kennedy) Holder (1918-2010) › Florence Kennedy (1930-2017)
Featured Eurovision connections: Jean is 31 degrees from Agnetha Fältskog, 20 degrees from Anni-Frid Synni Reuß, 18 degrees from Corry Brokken, 20 degrees from Céline Dion, 19 degrees from Françoise Dorin, 20 degrees from France Gall, 28 degrees from Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, 27 degrees from Lill-Babs Svensson, 17 degrees from Olivia Newton-John, 26 degrees from Henriette Nanette Paërl, 32 degrees from Annie Schmidt and 15 degrees from Moira Kennedy on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
Thanks .
Maggie