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Patricia KennedyAmerican socialite and sixth of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy
Date of Birth: 06.05.1924
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Patricia Kennedy
Patricia Helen 'Pat' Kennedy Lawford was born on May 6, 1924, in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, USA. She was the sixth of nine children of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Patricia, also known as Pat, was considered the most experienced but also the most reserved of the five daughters in the family. From childhood, she was fascinated by Hollywood and traveling. Over time, Patricia even became a world traveler, writing about her journeys for international and independent press.
Early Life and Career
After graduating from Rosemont College, Patricia moved to Hollywood, full of hopes of becoming a film producer and, like her father, a director. Her father, apparently believing that his daughter was capable of anything, once said, "Pat is the only one who understands business. She could really run a city if she wanted to." In the 1950s, a woman with very conservative views, Patricia worked for a production group responsible for patriotic and religious projects, including singer Kate Smith's radio program and the 'Family Rosary Crusade' by Father Peyton.
Marriage and Personal Life
Patricia Kennedy met actor Peter Lawford through her sister Eunice in the 1940s. They met again in 1949 and then once more in 1953. After a short courtship, Lawford and Kennedy announced their engagement in February 1954. The couple got married on April 24, 1954, at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Thomas More in New York, just two weeks before Patricia's 30th birthday. The newlyweds settled in Santa Monica, California, and frequently socialized with actress Judy Garland and her family. Interestingly, Garland gave birth to her son Joseph on the same day and in the same hospital where Kennedy celebrated the birth of her son Christopher.
Later Life and Legacy
Patricia made a cameo appearance in her husband's sitcom, 'Dear Phoebe,' which aired during the 1954-1955 television season. In real life, the glamorous Peter had difficulty adapting to Patricia's strong Catholic beliefs and her family's vision of their married life. However, few would have liked Lawford's drinking, extramarital affairs, and increasingly apparent drug addiction. Shortly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Patricia filed for legal separation from her husband, and the couple officially divorced in 1966. Remaining faithful to her religious convictions, she never remarried.
After the divorce, Kennedy tried to overcome alcoholism and fought a battle against cancer. She worked at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and also became one of the founders of the National Committee for Literacy. Patricia Kennedy passed away on September 17, 2006, at the age of 82, in her Manhattan home from complications caused by pneumonia.
