|  August 11, 2009
Special Olympics Mourns the Loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver on the CMU campus during the World Games in Mt. Pleasant. |
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died early Tuesday morning at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old. Near her at the time of her death were her husband, R. Sargent Shriver; her five children: Robert Bobby Sargent Shriver III, Maria Owings Shriver, Timothy Perry Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver, as well as their spouses and all of her nineteen grandchildren.
The younger sister of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Shriver was the founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, and executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. She has been a leader in the worldwide movement to improve and to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than six decades. MORE
Special Olympics Michigan Mourning The Loss Of Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver
| “She was an incredible visionary and extremely powerful woman who greatly changed the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. She opened the door of opportunity for athletes with intellectual disabilities and taught all of us to know and embrace them.”
-Lois Arnold, President & CEO Special Olympics Michigan
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Members of the Special Olympics Michigan family have heavy hearts at the passing of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She made a huge difference in the lives of millions of Special Olympics athletes and their families around the world.
In 1975 Kennedy Shriver attended the International Games on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Special Olympics Michigan President & CEO Lois Arnold has been with the  organization for nearly 30 years and had the honor of meeting Kennedy Shriver several times. Kennedy Shriver personally called Arnold to congratulate her in 1990 when she was named President & CEO. Arnold also saw Kennedy Shriver at several World games over the years. “Eunice Kennedy Shriver always got engaged and involved right at the athlete’s level. She was an incredible visionary who opened doors for a lot of people, not just athletes. She expanded the world of volunteers to work with people who have intellectual disabilities and showed volunteers how wonderful it is to work with them,” Arnold said. MORE
Statement from The Shriver Family
 It's hard for us to believe: the amazing Eunice Kennedy Shriver went home to God this morning at 2 a.m.
She was the light of our lives, a mother, wife, grandmother, sister and aunt who taught us by example and with passion what it means to live a faith-driven life of love and service to others. For each of us, she often seemed to stop time itself - to run another Special Olympics games, to visit us in our homes, to attend to her own mother, her sisters and brothers, and to sail, tell stories, and laugh and serve her friends. How did she do it all? MORE
 Dear Special Olympics Family...
(Statement from Timothy Shriver)
It is with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that my mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, passed away early this morning.
At the time of her death -- as it was throughout her long and full life -- she was surrounded by her family, her husband, her children, her grandchildren and those who loved her. MORE
Condolences
- Please go to www.eunicekennedyshriver.org to post a tribute or share your story on the website.
- Condolence cards may be sent to Special Olympics headquarters: 1133 19th Street NW, Washington DC, 20036.
- Condolence books will be available for the public to sign at the following locations:
Special Olympics’ Headquarters: 1133 19th Street NW, Washington DC, 20036.
The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum: 397 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125
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