By: Kristen Tripodi
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died early this morning in a hospital in Massachusetts. She was 88 years old. Shriver, sister of John F. Kennedy, carried on the family's tradition of public service. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968, with the first games in Chicago of the same year.
Shriver's older sister, Rosemary Kennedy born in September of 1918. According to Shriver, Rosemary had a mild form of mental disabilities and lived with the family in their home. It was uncommon at the time for families to have their disabled children live with them, most of the time they were institutionalized. Shriver drew inspiration from Rosemary and her condition; and started the Special Olympics.
Shriver received many awards for her work on behalf of those with mental disabilities, including the nation's highest civilian award, the (U.S.) Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1984 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Neal Johnson, President and CEO of the New York State Division of the Special Olympics says while the Special Olympics movement is truly an accomplishment, that's only one of the many things Shriver achieved in her lifetime.
"That's just really a part of her legacy in service to people who are differently abled.. There is so much more that she's done on their behalf, that quite honestly gets overshadowed by the impact of the Special Olympics movement, which of course is her child, so to speak" says Johnson.
Because Shriver died early today, Johnson says the New York Division hasn't had time to plan a memorial service. Johnson say; "We have not made a determination yet if we are going to do a formal tribute to Mrs. Shriver, but undoubtedly she will be a large part of every event that we produce."
August 7th, she was admitted to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts; where she died early this morning, around 2 a.m.
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