Educator and disability rights advocate Kyle Kennedy died on September 21 at her home in Westwood, Massachusetts, according to her obituary. She was one of 34 grandchildren of Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy and devoted much of her professional life to early childhood education, education reform and advocacy for people with disabilities.
Born on July 6, 1984, in Washington, D.C., Kyle was the daughter of Michael, who died in 1997, and Victoria Denise Gifford. Her mother, Victoria, is the daughter of Frank Gifford and Maxine Avis Ewart and the stepdaughter of television personality Kathie Lee Gifford.
Kyle built a career focused on improving educational opportunities for children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and individuals with disabilities. Following her college graduation, she began working as a teacher in New York City through the Teach For America program.
Her commitment to education continued through advanced studies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Georgetown University, followed by a Master of Science in Early Education from Pace University. She later completed a Master of Education in Education Policy and Management at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
In August 2012, Kyle married Liam Kerr in a ceremony held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. The couple became parents to twins, Conor and Josie. Tragically, their daughter, Josie, died just days after her birth. Two years later, they welcomed another son, Declan. Her obituary describes Kerr as her former husband.
In 2020, Kyle sustained a severe spinal cord injury that left her with long-term paralysis. Despite the significant challenges associated with her condition, she became an advocate for people living with disabilities, using her experience to draw attention to discrimination and barriers to equal treatment.
Her advocacy included testifying at a hearing at the Massachusetts State House concerning discrimination in health care affecting people with disabilities. Through this work, she sought to highlight the challenges people with disabilities encounter when accessing medical services and to support efforts toward greater fairness and inclusion.
Kyle is survived by her sons, 12-year-old Conor and 10-year-old Declan; her mother, Victoria Denise Gifford; her brother, Michael; her sister, Rory; and her nieces and nephews, McKie, Quinn, Jack and Caleb.
Her life brought together a commitment to education, a determination to improve opportunities for vulnerable communities and a later dedication to disability rights. Her death on September 21 marks the loss of an educator and advocate whose work focused on making institutions more accessible and equitable for others.
