Tatiana Schlossberg died at age 35 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia, her family announced Tuesday. She was an environmentalist and the granddaughter of JFK.
Her death was shared in a message from The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation on social media. “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,” the statement said, signed by her husband, children, parents and siblings.
A Life and Career Shaped by Curiosity and Care
The news that JFK’s granddaughter’s death has shocked many but who was Tatiana Schlossberg?
She was the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. ambassador and daughter of President Kennedy, and designer Edwin Schlossberg. She grew up in New York and went on to become a respected journalist, often focusing on climate change and the environment. Her work appeared in major outlets, and her 2019 book Inconspicuous Consumption won environmental journalism awards for its look at how everyday choices affect the planet.
Tatiana Schlossberg’s cause of death was a months-long fight with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia first diagnosed in May 2024, shortly after the birth of her daughter. Schlossberg publicly shared her diagnosis in a moving essay in The New Yorker last month, detailing rounds of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and clinical trials. She wrote candidly about her hopes and fears, including her worry that her young children might not remember her.
Tributes From Family and Friends
Tributes poured in after the announcement. Maria Shriver, the former TV journalist and niece of President Kennedy, posted that Tatiana Schlossberg was “the light, the humor, the joy,” and that she used her words to educate others about the earth and how to protect it. Shriver also said Tatiana “loved her life, and she fought like hell to try to save it.”
Another relative, Kerry Kennedy, reflected on Schlossberg’s impact, saying she “left our world more joyful, more beautiful, more full of loving kindness.” JFK’s granddaughter’s death has revived reflections on the family’s long history of public service, passion for ideas and, tragically, multiple early losses.
Her Final Months and Public Sharing
As for Tatiana Schlossberg’s diagnosis, in her New Yorker essay titled “A Battle With My Blood,” Schlossberg recounted the shock of her diagnosis and the aggressive treatments she underwent, including two stem cell transplants and participation in clinical trials. Her doctor once told her he could keep her alive for a year, maybe, she wrote, but the cancer persisted.
Her writing was frank and deeply personal, touching on the emotional and physical toll of her illness. She also used the platform to critique health policy decisions by her cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., arguing that funding cuts to medical research could hurt patients like her. That public critique added complexity and passion to her final months.
A Legacy Beyond Her Years
Tatiana Schlossberg and her career in journalism took her to The New York Times and other major publications. She contributed to national conversations on climate, science and environmental responsibility, and built a reputation for thoughtful, impactful coverage. Her book and reporting helped readers connect broad environmental trends with everyday life.
