The Kennedy family has experienced another significant loss with the passing of Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former US President John F Kennedy. Tatiana, aged 35, succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia after a recent diagnosis.
The news of Tatiana’s death was officially announced by the JKF Library Foundation on behalf of her family, expressing their grief and stating, “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always hold a special place in our hearts,” in a heartfelt message signed by her immediate family members.
Tatiana, the middle child of Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, was a respected environmental journalist and author, as well as a devoted mother to her two young children. She revealed her cancer diagnosis earlier this year in an essay titled ‘A Battle With My Blood’ published in The New Yorker magazine, coinciding with the anniversary of JFK’s assassination. In the essay, she shared the shock of her diagnosis, emphasizing her health and fitness prior to the discovery of the illness.
Following the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with a rare genetic mutation, Tatiana underwent extensive treatments including chemotherapy, multiple blood transfusions, and two bone marrow transplants, with her sister Rose being a donor for the first transplant. Despite these efforts, she later participated in a clinical trial for CAR-T cell therapy at the beginning of 2025, although her doctors could only offer limited hope for her prognosis.
In her poignant writings, Tatiana reflected on the emotional toll of her illness, especially the challenges of being separated from her children during her treatments. She expressed deep concerns about her children’s memories of her and the impact of her illness on her family, acknowledging the burden she felt she had placed on her loved ones.
The passing of Tatiana Schlossberg adds to the long history of sorrow within the Kennedy family, particularly for her mother, Caroline Kennedy, who has endured multiple losses from a young age. The family’s string of tragedies over the years has led to the popular belief in the so-called Kennedy Curse, as they have faced numerous misfortunes and untimely deaths across generations.
From World War II to recent times, the Kennedy family has been marked by a series of heartbreaks, including the loss of prominent family members like JFK’s brother, sister, and son, among others. The legacy of tragedies continues to shape the narrative of one of America’s most storied families.