A Death in the Family

Eunice Kennedy Shriver-- the fifth of nine siblings, including JFK and RFK-- died at approximately 2 a.m. on August 11, 2009, at age 88. Shriver was the mother of five children. Daughter Maria is the First Lady of California. During her lifetime, Shriver contributed to society in a number of ways. She is best known as the founder of the Special Olympics, a program she started in honor of sister Rosemary, who had developmental disabilities. This great humanitarian will be greatly missed. Like many other members of the Kennedy family (and the countless Americans they inspired), Eunice lived by her mother, Rose's, credo: "To whom much has been given, much is to be expected."-- as well as her brother's 1961 presidential inauguration hookline: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."