Today, January 7, 2022, is the 17th anniversary of the death of Rosemary Kennedy. The eldest daughter of the Kennedy family. Rosemary was born on September 13, 1918 and showed signs of intellectual disabilities from an early age. Her family reported that Rosemary had been regressing in her early 20s, and so it was decided that Rosemary would receive a lobotomy. This was a relatively new procedure that was intended to calm Rosemary and decrease mood swings. The procedure left her permanently incapacitated. Rosemary lived the rest of her life at St. Coletta’s School for Exceptional Children in Wisconsin. Rosemary left a mark on her family and was the inspiration for the work completed by her family members for people with disabilities. Most notably was the foundation of the Special Olympics by Rosemary Kennedy’s sister.
Reference:
Rosemary Kennedy. (n.d.) John F. Kennedy: Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved on December 18, 2021 from https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/the-kennedy-family/rosemary-kennedy.