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Several times over the last few days, I've found myself shedding more than a few tears for Ted Kennedy, who died on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, at the age of 77 after a yearlong struggle with brain cancer. Although I never met Ted Kennedy or any other member of his astonishing family, the Kennedys have been part of my psychic life since 1960 when I was 14-years-old. I feel like I've lost a close relative.
At that time, Teddy was the big, handsome, twinkly-eyed, younger brother of John and Robert Kennedy, the much-adored baby of the family, who everyone looked to for a joke and a cute antic-and not much else. Even when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962, he secured the job as a result of his brother's popularity, not his own qualifications, which, at the time, were essentially non-existent. Little was expected of him by his constituents in Massachusetts, and even, one suspects, by members of his own family.
But 47-years later, when Ted Kennedy arrived at end of his own life journey, he had evolved into one of the most effective legislators in American history, and possibly even in the history of the world. Earlier I said that perhaps even his own family expected little of him, but I recall an anecdote I once read: Apparently for one special occasion, President Kennedy gave Ted a silver box engraved with the words: "The last shall be first." It would appear that President Kennedy's prophecy was right on the money.
In all the news coverage of Senator Kennedy's death, one of the most touching facts for me, was that after the death of Robert Kennedy in June, 1968, Ted assumed the role and responsibility of surrogate father for the eleven children of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, and for Caroline and John F. Kennedy, Jr., the offspring of President Kennedy, who had been assassinated in 1963, and his wife Jacqueline. Including his own three children, Ted Kennedy was now the primary male role model for 16 children under the age of 18. That responsibility would be backbreaking for any man at any age, but in 1968, Ted Kennedy was only 36 years old. What's more, undoubtedly he was struggling with his own profound grief and fear, not only for his own life and the safety, but for that of other members of his family.
And yet, it would appear that Ted Kennedy embraced his role as father, surrogate father, loving uncle, and family patriarch. For the rest of his life, according to his niece, Caroline, in her talk at his "Remembrance Service," he never missed a wedding (and, of course, gave away those daughters for whom he was surrogate dad), baptism, confirmation, school play, sports event, or any other family gathering. He also, apparently, arranged many trips with his extended-family-of-28-"children" (and later 60 Kennedy grandchildren), making sure they witnessed and understood the historical sites and places and aspects of life he so loved.
I've always deeply admired Ted Kennedy's tenacity and stick-to-it-iveness. In a Job-like way, he endured seemingly endless tragedies in his life-including several that were of his own making. He was a wealthy man, and no one would have blamed him if he had just given up, and lived the life of a country gentleman. But he never did! Instead, for the most part, he dedicated his life to his monumental work in the U.S. Senate and to the welfare of his children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren. Fortunately, he lived long enough to accomplish incredible good, both publicly and privately. For that he will be remembered with gratitude, great respect, appreciation, and love.
