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Buffalo Mourns: Joan Kennedy, Beloved Wife of Senator Ted Kennedy and Lifelong Bills Fan, Passes Away at 89

Buffalo, NY – October 8, 2025
The Buffalo Bills community and the broader American public are mourning the loss of
Born Virginia Joan Bennett in Riverdale, New York, in 1936, she grew up surrounded by music and faith. A gifted classical pianist and graduate of Manhattanville College, Joan later became one of the most graceful figures connected to one of America’s most storied political families. Yet to those who knew her best, she was not just a Kennedy — she was a woman of heart, humor, and quiet resilience.
Throughout her life, Joan carried a deep love for the Buffalo Bills, attending games during the AFL years and proudly calling herself part of the “Bills Mafia” long before the phrase existed. Friends recalled how she once joked that her favorite Sundays were “those when the Bills win and the world feels right again.”
Her journey was not without hardship — public struggles, private battles, and the weight of national attention often shadowed her life. Still, her grace never faltered. She remained devoted to her three children — Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick — and continued to support charitable causes in music education and community outreach in Massachusetts and Western New York.
“Joan Kennedy’s spirit embodied perseverance, kindness, and quiet strength. She will forever remain a cherished part of the Kennedy family’s legacy and a member of the Bills’ extended family,” the team said in a statement Tuesday night.
As fans leave flowers and Bills scarves outside Highmark Stadium in her memory, one message rings clear: Joan Kennedy will be remembered not only as a figure of history, but as a symbol of compassion, loyalty, and love — both for her family and for the team she never stopped cheering for.
Rest in peace, Joan Kennedy. Once a Bill, always a Bill. 💙❤️