Ethel Kennedy faced unimaginable heartbreak throughout her life. Among the many tragedies she endured was the sudden loss of two of her sons. Take a closer look at the heartbreaking deaths of David and Michael Kennedy.
Ethel Kennedy, the wife of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was a prominent figure in American history, known for her unwavering commitment to social justice and her strength in the face of family tragedies.
Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy boarding a plane for San Juan, Puerto Rico, in March 1966. | Source: Getty Images
Born into a political dynasty, she married into one of the most iconic American families. She and Robert raised 11 children, navigating both the highs of public service and the lows of personal loss.
Despite her remarkable resilience, Ethel was no stranger to heartache, having tragically lost two of her sons — David and Michael Kennedy — in sudden and devastating circumstances.
Ethel Kennedy at the Restore Ball in New York City on September 28, 1970. | Source: Getty Images
David, the fourth of Ethel’s children, led a life deeply affected by trauma. At just 13 years old, he witnessed the assassination of his father on live television, an event that haunted him for the rest of his life.
Despite his promising beginnings, the emotional toll of his father’s death led David down a path of addiction. On April 25, 1984, he was found dead in his hotel room in Palm Beach, Florida, at 28.
David and Chris Kennedy watching a tennis match with their cousin, Ted Kennedy Jr., on August 25, 1974. | Source: Getty Images
He had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for many years, and while his cause of death wasn’t immediately clear, investigators eventually ruled out suicide.
There were ”no signs of foul play,” said Sergeant Henry L. Marchman, spokesman for the Police Department of Palm Beach. The results of a preliminary autopsy tonight were being studied, as officials suspected it was an accidental overdose.
David Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention on July 15, 1976, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
David, who resided in Boston, traveled to Palm Beach to visit his grandmother, Rose Kennedy, who was in poor health. His body was discovered by a hotel secretary, Elizabeth Barnett, around 11:30 a.m. after a family member called to check if he had left for his flight.
When there was no response from his room phone, the hotel staff were instructed to investigate, according to hotel spokesman Gerald H. Beebe Jr.
David Kennedy in New York in 1984. | Source: Getty Images
The spokesman noted that hotel staff had seen David the previous Tuesday, describing him as being in good spirits. A desk clerk even recalled him waving as he passed the front desk.
David’s uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, reflected on his nephew’s troubled life, stating, “We all pray that David has finally found the peace that he did not find in life.” The Kennedy family were no strangers to tragedy and mourned deeply, but the heartbreak did not end there.
Members of the Kennedy family escorted by Ethel Kennedy carrying the casket of David Kennedy from the hearse to the Kennedy House on May 4, 1984. | Source: Getty Images
Thirteen years later, in 1997, another devastating blow struck Ethel when her son Michael died in a skiing accident. Known for his adventurous spirit, Michael was skiing in Aspen, Colorado, when he collided with a tree, resulting in his immediate death at 39.
Michael Kennedy and Vicky Gifford at Attorney Roy Cohn’s birthday party in New York City on February 22, 1981. | Source: Getty Images
Michael had faced controversy in the years leading up to his death due to an alleged affair with the family’s babysitter. The scandal even affected his brother Joseph P. Kennedy II’s political aspirations.
We need your prayers for ‘Victor Newman’
The 82-year-old actor, best known for playing businessman Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless, announced to his fans that he has received a cancer diagnosis.
While convalescing from knee replacement surgery, he received the heartbreaking diagnosis.
One of the most well-known actors in daytime television, Braeden, disclosed in a 13-minute Facebook Live session on Friday that he had prostate problems that later proved to be cancer. “I started having issues with my prostate while I was healing from the knee surgery,” he stated. “I apologize for being so direct, but I believe some older guys who might or might not listen to this could benefit from this. It will occur to them.
Following a successful UroLift surgery—a therapeutic option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—doctors were able to remove the malignancy. The actor, who was born in Germany, is currently undergoing a six-week immunotherapy regimen.
He said, “I’m feeling a little under the weather, but not really much.” “I’ve learnt to not push myself too hard and to pay more attention to my body. I will understand. And I’ll soon be back to my best.
“I’m going to lick this,” Braeden said. “I’m going to get it; this bastard isn’t going to get me.”
Regarding his almost 40-year tenure on The Young and the Restless, Braeden stated it’s what keeps him going. That’s where I am at the moment, he remarked. “I enjoy entertaining people by acting. I appreciate your help. Thus, offer your support to any family member who experiences this. It might succeed. You can survive cancer these days because to the tremendous advancements in cancer treatment.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Braeden revealed that performing helps him forget about his health problems and that he feels content when he knows he entertains others.
His character was originally intended to be a guest character on the show for eight to twelve weeks, but he has developed into the main male character in the soap opera.
We hope Eric Braeden gets over his health problems and wish him all the best that life has to offer.
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