UP Ibalon Bicol: Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77 dies of brain cancer

Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77 dies of brain cancer

8/26/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Edward (Ted) Kennedy, the 77-year old brother of Pres. John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Sen. Robert Kennedy died after a fight against brain cancer in Massachusetts. The controversial patriarch of the Kennedy clan whose career in the senate spanned almost half a century was a liberal democrat with a strong voice on issues of healthcare, education, immigration, and better wages.

The senator who reached out to colleagues of all political persuasions championed civil rights, defended the poor, worked to end the Vietnam war, and advocated against nuclear proliferation. From all over the world, his death elicited a flurry of recollections and praises for a towering political figure with indelible contribution to public service.

The 9th and youngest child of an influential political family of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, Edward became a senator in the early ‘60s raising hopes that he would one day become president. The legendary saga of his family and career however had been marked by a series of tragedy and personal triumph.

His brothers John Jr. and Robert died on the hands of assassins cutting short their political careers. His bid for the White House was thwarted by Jimmy Carter who won the presidential nomination in 1980. His ambition to hold the highest office of the land was ruined by the Chappaquiddick incident when the car he drove plunged into the river killing a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne.

Having served briefly in the Army, Edward went to Harvard without finishing his education but graduated in the University of Virginia Law School. He was married to Joan Bennett Kennedy in 1958, but got divorced in 1982.

The white haired, barrel-chested senator with a booming voice remarried a young Washington lawyer named Victoria Reggie. His children included daughter, Kara Kennedy Allen, sons, Edward Jr. and Patrick, the congressman from Rhode Island, and stepchildren, Caroline and Curran Raclin.

Vigorously treated by the best doctors under the current healthcare he wanted to reform, he succumbed to a vicious form of cerebral tumor called malignant glioma. An ardet supporter of Pres. Barack Obama whom he endorsed in the presidential race, he asked his niece Caroline Kennedy to seek the New York senatorial position vacated by Hillary Clinton, but failed.

Proximate to his death, Ted asked his colleagues to revert the choice of a senate replacement for him from election to a gubernatorial selection---- so that the transition of office at the time of his death could be easy. Because of his deteriorated health, the accomplished lawmaker wasn’t able attend the funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, his elderly sister who died early this month. (Photo Credit: AP/ Cook)=0=

RELATED BLOG: Sen. Edward Kennedy survives longer under the world’s best medicine available Posted by mesiamd at 7/07/2009; Posthumous tributes to Sen. Edward Kennedy pours in from the world Posted by mesiamd at 8/27/2009; Sen. Edward Kennedy interred in Arlington Cemetery Posted by mesiamd at 8/30/2009

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Labels: brain tumor, Caroline Kennedy, death, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, malignant glioma, Massachusetts, Milestone, Obituary, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Senator, Totie Mesia, transition

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Sen. Edward Kennedy, 77 dies of brain cancer

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