Maeve Kennedy McKean

Maeve Fahey Kennedy McKean (née Townsend; November 1, 1979 – April 2, 2020) was an American public health official, human rights attorney, and academic. She served as the Executive Director of the Global Health Initiative at Georgetown University. During the Obama Administration, McKean was the first-ever Senior Advisor for Human Rights in the United States Department of State's global AIDS program and the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She disappeared with her eldest son Gideon in the Chesapeake Bay on April 2, 2020. Maryland law enforcement officials declared that she and her son were presumed dead on April 3, 2020. Her body was found in the Chesapeake Bay on April 6. Gideon McKean's body was recovered two days later, on April 8.[2][3][4][5][6]

Maeve Kennedy McKean
Personal details
Born	Maeve Fahey Kennedy Townsend[1] (1979-11-01)November 1, 1979 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	April 2, 2020(2020-04-02) (aged 40) Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	David McKean ( m. 2009)
Children	3
Parents	David Townsend Kathleen Kennedy
Relatives	Kennedy family
Education	St. Paul's School for Girls
Alma mater	Boston College Trinity College Dublin Georgetown University
Occupation	Lawyer, public health official, professor

Early life and education

McKean was a daughter of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland,[7][8] and David Lee Townsend, a professor at St. John's College.[9][10] She was born in New Haven, Connecticut and was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.[11][10] A member of the Kennedy family,[12] she was a granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy and a grandniece of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.[13][14]

McKean attended elementary and middle schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools system, and later attended St. Paul's School for Girls for high school, graduating in 1997.[15] She was an undergraduate student at Boston College.[10] While in college, she worked part-time at Bruegger's and Dunkin' Donuts and studied abroad at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.[10][15] She graduated from Georgetown University with a joint juris doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree in international negotiations and conflict resolution from the Walsh School of Foreign Service in 2009.[16][17]

Career

McKean was a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Mozambique.[7][16] She returned to the United States in 2002 to work on her mother's unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.[18] She served in the Obama Administration as the first-ever Senior Advisor for Human Rights within the United States Department of State's Global AIDS program and at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Global Affairs, where she led teams on working with human rights policy issues, women's and children's health, and LGBTQ health.[16][19][20]

She also worked for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in California and in Washington, D.C.[16][10]

McKean served as an associate research professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy and co-launched the university's Center for Immigrant, Refugee and Global Health.[16][21] She served as the Executive Director of Georgetown University's Global Health Initiative.[9][14][22] McKean was also an adjunct professor at Georgetown, where she taught bioethics and human rights.[23][17]

In March 2019 McKean, during an interview with Spanish news agency EFE, stated that her public health work is centered on women and children because they are "half of the world" and due to more funding and research going in to drugs and interventions that pertain to health issues related to men.[24] On May 8, 2019, she spoke out against her uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and his non-profit health organization, Children's Health Defense, for spreading false information about vaccines.[18][25] In March 2020 she signed a letter, along with hundreds of other public health officials, urging U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to follow scientific recommendations and provide adequate funding in response to COVID-19.[18]

Personal life

McKean met David McKean, then a student at the University of California at Berkeley, while she was working in California for Senator Feinstein in 2003.[26] The two went on a trip to Asia together, travelling to China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos.[19][10] They became engaged in 2008.[27] They married on March 21, 2009, at the Woman's National Democratic Club, a mansion in Washington, D.C.[26] They had three children: Gideon, Gabriella, and Tobias.[15] The family lives in Washington, D.C., where both McKean and her husband worked as lawyers.[17][19] She served as president of the Parent–Teacher Association at Capitol Hill Cluster School, a public K-8 school where her children are enrolled.[28]

Disappearance and death

On April 2, 2020, McKean and her eight-year-old son, Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean,[29] went missing while paddling in a canoe near McKean's mother's waterfront residence in Shady Side, Maryland.[30]

McKean had taken her family to Maryland to stay in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.[31] Reports from the Maryland Natural Resources Police say they were attempting to retrieve a kickball that had landed in the water.[17] Due to high winds, they were swept further out into the Chesapeake Bay. Fire officials from Anne Arundel County received an emergency call at 4:30 PM that day from a man who reported seeing a woman and her son, presumably the McKeans, in a small canoe near the community pier at Columbia Beach.[9][32]

McKean and her son were last sighted ten miles south of Annapolis, near Herring Bay. Marine units from the Queen Anne's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Maryland State Police, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as well as the United States Coast Guard, searched the Chesapeake by boat and helicopter.[9][33] Natural Resources Police reported that an overturned canoe was found around 7:00 PM on April 3, 2020, near Rockhold Creek in Deale[15][34] Later that night, after twenty-six hours, the Coast Guard suspended its search. At 7:30 PM, Maryland officials called off the search due to darkness.[13] As of April 3, 2020, she and her son were presumed dead.[35] On April 4, 2020, the search was resumed by Maryland police.[15]

Maeve and Gideon McKean's tragedy has been referred to in the media as part of the "Kennedy curse" – a series of deaths, accidents, and other calamities that have befallen the family.[36][37] Maeve McKean's body was recovered on April 6, 2020, and her son's body was recovered two days later, on April 8.[2][3][4][5][6] On April 8, 2020, the medical examiner reported McKean accidentally drowned in the turbulent and chilly water of the Chesapeake Bay.[38]

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a public funeral could not take place.[39] An online memorial via Zoom, called A Gathering of Love and Thanksgiving for Maeve and Gideon, was hosted by the Kennedy family on April 11, 2020, and watched by over 3,000 people.[40][39] Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, and Kenny Chesney performed at the online memorial.[41]

References

Citations

1. Andersen, Travis; Fox, Jeremy C. (April 3, 2020). "Daughter, grandson of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend presumed dead after going missing in Chesapeake Bay". The Boston Globe. Boston: Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
2. Associated Press (April 6, 2020). "The body of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, 40, was located by Charles County Dive and Rescue". WEAU. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
3. "Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean's body recovered by Maryland police". CBS News. New York City: CBS. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
4. Madani, Doha (April 6, 2020). "Body of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean found after canoe accident, son still missing". NBC News. New York City: NBC. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
5. "Officials Recover Body Of 8-Year-Old Gideon McKean, Robert F. Kennedy's Great-Grandson In Chesapeake Bay". CBS News. Annapolis: CBS. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
6. Stelloh, Tim (April 8, 2020). "Body of 8-year-old Gideon McKean, great-grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, found after canoe accident". NBC News. New York City: NBC. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
7. Calicchio, Dom (April 3, 2020). "RFK granddaughter, 40, and son, 8, presumed dead after Chesapeake Bay mishap, family says". Fox News. New York City: Fox Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
8. Oppenheimer 1994, p. 624.
9. Reed, Lillian; Barker, Jeff; Mann, Alex (April 4, 2020). "Mission to find daughter, grandson on Chesapeake Bay turns from 'rescue to recovery,' says ex-Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
10. Weller, Sheila (May 1, 2008). "Bobby's Girls". Glamour. United States: Condé Nast. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
11. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Wellington, New Zealand. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
12. Schladebeck, Jessica (April 4, 2020). "Rep. Joe Kennedy III mourns loss of cousin Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her 8-year-old son". New York Daily News. New York City: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
13. McNamara, Audrey (April 3, 2020). "Search for Robert F. Kennedy's granddaughter and her young son shifts "from rescue to recovery," mother says". CBS News. New York City: CBS. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
14. Stracqualursi, Veronica (April 3, 2020). "Maeve Kennedy McKean and her son, Gideon: Search suspended for two members of Kennedy family lost in Chesapeake Bay". CNN. Atlanta: WarnerMedia. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
15. Rector, Kevin (April 6, 2020). "Chesapeake Bay recovery mission to resume Monday for ex-Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter, grandson". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
16. "Maeve McKean". Globalhealth.georgetown.edu. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
17. "Search Underway For Kennedys, Maeve McKean And Son Gideon, In Chesapeake Bay". WJZ-TV. Baltimore: CBS Television Stations (ViacomCBS). January 1, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
18. "Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, son identified as missing Chesapeake Bay boaters". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Nash Holdings. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
19. "Kennedy Granddaughter & Her 8-Year-Old Son Missing After Canoe Was 'Apparently Overtaken by Winds'". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
20. United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2017, p. 64.
21. "BREAKING: Kennedy family 'has lost two of the brightest lights'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dunwoody, Georgia: Cox Enterprises. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
22. "Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, Robert Kennedy's Granddaughter, and Son Feared Drowned After Canoe Accident". The Daily Beast. United States: IAC. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
23. "Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean, son presumed dead after canoe accident". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
24. "Maeve Kennedy: “Cuando mejoras la salud de las mujeres y niĂąas, mejoras la salud de las comunidadesâ€?". YouTube. March 21, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
25. Kennedy Townsend, Kathleen; Kennedy, Joseph P.; Kennedy McKean, Maeve (May 8, 2019). "RFK Jr. Is Our Brother and Uncle. He's Tragically Wrong About Vaccines". Politico. Arlington, Virginia: Capitol News Company. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
26. Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (March 29, 2009). "Maeve Townsend and David McKean - Weddings and Celebrations". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
27. "What to Know About RFK's Granddaughter Maeve, a Lawyer Who Went Missing While Canoeing with Son". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
28. "Statement regarding CHCS PTA President Maeve McKean". Capitol Hill Cluster. Washington, D. C.: District of Columbia Public Schools. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
29. Puente, Maria (April 8, 2020). "Maryland police find body of missing Kennedy child after five-day search of Chesapeake Bay". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
30. Swalec, Andrea; Drimmer, Ilana; West, Willard (April 4, 2020). "2 Members of Kennedy Family Presumed Dead After Canoeing Off Chesapeake Bay". WRC-TV. Washington, D.C.: NBC Owned Television Stations (NBCUniversal). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
31. Gearty, Robert (April 4, 2020). "RFK granddaughter took family to Maryland to escape coronavirus, husband says". Fox News. New York City: Fox Corporation. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
32. IrishCentral Staff (April 3, 2020). "RFK's granddaughter and her son disappear after canoeing in Chesapeake Bay". IrishCentral. New York City: Irish Studio LLC. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
33. Dorn, Sara (April 4, 2020). "Kennedy family remembers Maeve McKean, son after boat accident". New York Post. New York City: News Corp. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
34. Bonner, Michael (April 3, 2020). "Robert F. Kennedy's granddaughter Maeve McKean, her 8-year-old son missing as authorities search in Chesapeake Bay". The Republican. Springfield, Massachusetts: Advance Publications. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
35. "Read husband's memorial of Kennedy descendant and their 8-year-old son". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
36. "Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean: History of Kennedy family tragedies". The Daily Times. Salisbury, Maryland: Gannett Company. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
37. Rodriguez, Adrianna (April 3, 2020). "The Kennedy curse: A look at how tragedy has historically followed this prominent family". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
38. Carlson, Adam; Kantor, Wendy Grossman; Neumann, Sean (April 8, 2020). "Cause of Death Revealed for Kennedy Granddaughter Who Had Vanished in Canoe Accident with Son". People. United States: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
39. "Thousands go online for funeral of Kennedy grandniece". independent.
40. Braine, Theresa. "Virtual memorial held for Maeve Kennedy McKean and son Gideon". nydailynews.com.
41. "Kennedy's hold Zoom memorial service for Maeve and Gideon". IrishCentral.com. April 13, 2020.

Sources

• Oppenheimer, Jerry (1994). "The Other Mrs. Kennedy: An Intimate and Reevaling Look at the Hidden Life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy". New York City: St. Martin's Press. p. 624. ISBN 978-0312110406.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (2017). United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, December 1, 2016. Scotts Valley, California: CreateSpace. p. 64. ISBN 978-1542365048.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)