A Mother’s Tribute: Caroline Kennedy Remembers Daughter Tatiana Schlossberg
Caroline Kennedy has spoken publicly for the first time since the heartbreaking passing of her youngest daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, honouring her memory at a significant family event. Tatiana, a granddaughter of the late President John F. Kennedy and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, tragically died in December at the age of 35. Her death came just weeks after she courageously shared her terminal cancer diagnosis in a deeply personal essay for The New Yorker.
The poignant tribute occurred over the weekend at the annual John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award ceremony. Held at her late father’s presidential library in Boston, the event gathered family and supporters to celebrate acts of bravery in public life.
“Politics is a family endeavor and I am so grateful to the members of my family who are here tonight and whose support over many years has kept my father’s spirit alive and made this institution a living memorial,” Caroline Kennedy, 68, stated as she welcomed attendees. Among those present were Tatiana’s in-laws, Garrett and Mary Moran, underscoring the deep connections within the extended family.
With a palpable tremor in her voice, Caroline continued, “Most of all, we remember Tatiana, who served on the board of this library, and represented everything my parents stood for in her beautiful, amazing and too-short life.” The heartfelt words were met with a prolonged and moving standing ovation from the assembled crowd, a testament to Tatiana’s impact and the profound grief shared by those present. Caroline, visibly moved, mouthed “thank you” to the audience.
Tatiana, the middle child of Caroline and Edwin Schlossberg, passed away on December 30th. In her moving New Yorker essay, titled “A Battle with My Blood,” she revealed her diagnosis of a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia, a devastating blood cancer. At the time of her passing, the JFK Library Foundation issued a statement expressing their sorrow: “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.” The statement was poignantly signed by a multitude of family members, including “George, Edwin and Josephine Moran, Ed, Caroline, Jack, Rose and Rory.”
Tatiana leaves behind a loving family, including her husband, George Moran, their three-year-old son, Edwin, and their one-year-old daughter, Josephine. She is also survived by her parents, her brother Jack Schlossberg, 33, and her sister Rose Schlossberg, 37, who is married to Rory McAuliffe.
A Brother’s Grief and a Call to Action
The profound impact of Tatiana’s death has also been articulated by her brother, Jack Schlossberg. In May, Jack spoke candidly about his struggle with grief, admitting that he doesn’t believe he will ever fully “process” his sister’s loss.
“The world will never be the same for me, not only since she passed away, but since she was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago,” Jack shared in an interview with Vanity Fair. He described the unique bond they shared, stating, “She was my best friend. We could finish each other’s sentences. And no one loved me or was a bigger fan of me of anyone else than my sister.”
The deep sense of loss is ever-present for Jack. “So I miss her all the time. Every day I think about her,” he confessed. However, this profound sadness has also ignited a powerful sense of purpose. “But it also really does motivate me to do everything I can with every waking moment I have,” Jack explained. He elaborated on this sense of obligation, noting, “because I realize it could have just as easily been me, and I have an obligation to her, not just to myself, to make the most out of my precious life and all that I’ve been given in this life to give back to others and make sure that we can fund cures for the type of cancer that took her life, and for other types of cancer.” His words highlight a commitment to honouring Tatiana’s legacy through advocacy and support for cancer research, aiming to prevent others from enduring similar tragedies.
