Joan Bennett Kennedy, who covered PEOPLE magazine in August 1978 ""I needed space — my own space — and time to see what my needs are, now and for the rest of my life. It's sad to say, but I think I ...

BOSTON (AP) — Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who endured a troubled marriage marked by family tragedies, her husband’s infidelities and her own decades-long struggles with ...

Joan Bennett Kennedy has sadly passed away at the age of 89. The pianist, music teacher, and mental health advocate was best known for her marriage to Senator Ted Kennedy. Joan married the youngest of ...

Joan Bennett Kennedy, who later divorced from husband Ted, told PEOPLE that she needed "space" after getting sober to rebuild her life. Read the revealing full story from PEOPLE's archives below Joan ...

Joan Bennett Kennedy died on Oct. 8, 2025, at the age of 89, after largely retreating from public view in her final years. The first wife of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was open about her struggles with ...