Ted Kennedy
1932-2009

Dear Mr. Kennedy:
It was with great sadness I learned of your passing this week. We have never met personally, but I did get to shake your hand once when you came to my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. Mr. Kennedy, (may I call you Ted), I feel like I have known you my whole life. You see my maiden name is Kennedy and I have recently noticed that my own father bore a striking resemblance to you later in his life. In grade school whenever there was a project to be done that involved a senator or a president I was always assigned to the Kennedy family. But there were many things I did not know about you, things that did not involve politics…or your personal struggles. This week I learned that more than anything in this world you loved to be on your sailboat with your lovely wife, and your dogs Splash and Sunny. Nobody knew you baked the best cookies for your children, nieces and nephews. It was never made public that after the assassinations of your brothers John and Robert you became their surrogate father. My heart broke when I saw you carrying the ashes of John Jr. out to your sailboat to scatter them on the ocean he loved so much. Most importantly nobody knew how you gave voice to the voiceless, children, the elderly, the disabled and the poor. It was never made public the legislature that you wrote and put another senator’s name to it. Lastly, nobody knew about your love of the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins, and the Patriots. Massachusetts will miss you Ted, your charm, wit, and intelligence made you our favorite son!!