Eunice and Rosemary Kennedy

Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away last week at 88. She was well remembered as the founder and driving force behind the Special Olympics, an organization that forever changed the way the world perceives those with physical and mental disabilities. Her motivation in founding the Special Olympics was her sister Rosemary, who died in 2005 at 86. Rosemary was the retarded Kennedy sister as her condition was called years ago. An unsuccessful lobotomy further compromised Rosemary and she spent most of her life at a convent in Wisconsin.
The circumstances of her life were a carefully guarded secret during her brother’s presidential campaign for fear her condition would reflect negatively on her brother’s image. It was Eunice who forever shattered the taboo and the negative stereotypes by embracing the men and women we now see competing and excelling in the Special Olympics.
For most Americans, Rosemary Kennedy is frozen in the black and white of old photographs. However, as a guest the Kennedy compound in Hyannis a few years ago, I met Rosemary and the circumstances tell you a lot about Eunice’s and the family’s commitment to Rosemary and the cause.
I was staying at “the big house” which was then still occupied by Rose Kennedy and now by Ted Kennedy. Eunice had called me and asked if I wanted to play a little tennis at her house. I agreed and she said she’d pick me up. A few minutes later Eunice roared into the driveway, told me to hop in and said “say hello to my sister Rosie”, who was sitting in the front seat. I will not violate anyone’s confidence by specifically describing Rosemary but she was a lot to process as my only knowledge of her was in history books and old pictures.
Off we went to Eunice’s house where I helped Rosie out of the car and sat her on a bench while we hit tennis balls. (BTW, Eunice could really hit a tennis ball). Eunice constantly shouted to Rosemary as if she was actually following the action. Eunice took Rosemary everywhere and told me “Rosie always spends August with me.” We even went to the Cape Cod mall with Rosemary in a wheelchair and I remember thinking all those people have no idea they just saw the mysterious Rosemary Kennedy go by. For Eunice it was just taking her big sister to the mall.
She went on to tell me her brother Ted often took Rosie to Washington where he would take her to lunch in the Senate dining room and introduce her to his colleagues. While one could argue the Kennedy’s kept her hidden for many years for the wrong reason, it was Eunice who dragged them and the rest of us into the sunlight. It is a legacy that may well outlive and outshine her brothers. RIP, Eunice.