The family of former United States President John F. Kennedy has announced the death of his granddaughter, journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, at the age of 35. The news was shared through a post published by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, where the family expressed deep sorrow at her passing.
“Our beautiful Tatiana died this morning. She will live forever in our hearts,” the statement read, offering a brief yet emotional message that captured the family’s grief.
Tatiana, widely recognised for her environmental and climate journalism, confirmed publicly in November that she was battling cancer. In the article where she revealed her condition, she wrote with moving honesty that doctors had warned she had less than a year to live.
Illness and final months
Tatiana was the daughter of designer Edwin Schlossberg and Caroline Kennedy, the US ambassador to Australia and daughter of President Kennedy. In an article published last month titled “A Battle With My Blood”, she disclosed that she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) shortly after giving birth to her second child in May 2024.
AML is an aggressive blood and bone-marrow cancer that interferes with the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. Tatiana described the emotional turmoil she experienced when she learned of her diagnosis:
“My first thought was of my children — their faces live behind my eyelids. They may not remember me,” she wrote.
She underwent intense treatments, including chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant, yet doctors could not offer her a hopeful prognosis. Despite her fight, she acknowledged the emotional burden her death would bring to a family already marked by loss.
A family shaped by tragedy
The Kennedy family has historically endured profound tragedies:
| Family Member | Relation | Year | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy | Grandfather | 1963 | Assassinated |
| John F. Kennedy Jr. | Uncle | 1999 | Plane crash |
| Tatiana Schlossberg | Granddaughter | 2025 | Acute myeloid leukaemia |
Tatiana also reflected in her final writing on her lifelong effort to be “a good student, a good sister, a good daughter”. She feared that her passing would add another chapter of heartbreak to her family’s history — a pain she felt powerless to prevent.
Meanwhile, her younger brother Jack Schlossberg is currently contesting a congressional seat in New York, continuing the family’s prominent engagement in public life.
Tatiana’s life ended young, yet her work — especially her voice on climate and environmental issues — leaves a lasting imprint. For those who admired her journalism and compassion, she will remain a symbol of resilience in the face of profound personal struggle.