Tatiana Schlloberg’s life, though privileged and promising, was deeply scarred by the relentless tragedies that have haunted the Kennedy family for generations. Born as the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, she was destined to be part of a celebrated legacy, yet her years were punctuated by grief and loss that seemed almost unbearable.

Her journey through sorrow began at age four, when she lost her grandmother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie, an adored figure in American history, brought immense joy to her grandchildren, including Tatiana. However, a fall during a fox hunt in 1993 led to the discovery of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an aggressive cancer that swiftly invaded Jackie’s brain, spinal cord, and liver. Despite initial hopes, Jackie passed away in May 1994, leaving young Tatiana without the grandmother who had adored her.

Just a few years later, on New Year’s Eve 1997, tragedy struck again when Tatiana witnessed the fatal skiing accident of her 39-year-old cousin Michael Kennedy. Despite warnings against the dangerous game of ski football, Michael insisted on playing and crashed headfirst into a tree, dying from catastrophic head and neck trauma. The loss of Michael was Tatiana’s first encounter with violent death within her family.

The heartbreak compounded on July 16th, 1999, when Tatiana’s uncle John F. Kennedy Jr., a beloved public figure, died in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard. Piloting under challenging conditions with limited experience, John’s aircraft plunged into the sea, claiming the lives of all aboard. This loss left Caroline Kennedy, Tatiana’s mother, as the sole surviving immediate family member of President Kennedy.

In 2008, the family mourned the death of great-uncle Senator Ted Kennedy, a patriarch who had held the family together through decades of loss. Diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain cancer, Ted fought valiantly but succumbed after 15 months. Tatiana was 19 when she lost this steadfast figure.

The pattern of tragedy continued with the suicide of Mary Richardson Kennedy in 2012, wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and later the accidental overdose of cousin Sasha Kennedy Hill in 2019, who battled mental illness but died tragically young.

In 2020, the family was struck again when Mave Kennedy Townsend McKean and her young son Gideon drowned in a canoe accident during the early pandemic months. The senselessness of the accident, coupled with Mave’s outspoken criticism of antivaccine stances within the family, underscored the cruel irony that seemed to follow the Kennedys.

October 2024 saw the passing of Ethel Kennedy, the family matriarch who had endured more loss than most could bear. Her death came just months before Tatiana herself would face the gravest challenge of all.

Tatiana’s own battle began unexpectedly in May 2024, shortly after giving birth to her second child. Routine blood tests revealed acute myeloid leukemia with a rare and aggressive mutation. Despite intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant from her sister, and experimental therapies, the cancer returned. Her prognosis was grim.

On November 22nd, 2025, the 62nd anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, Tatiana courageously published a poignant essay detailing her fight with cancer, her fears, and the shadow of family loss. She spoke of protecting her mother and the heartbreak of knowing her children might not remember her.

Just 38 days later, on December 30th, 2025, Tatiana passed away at age 35. The Kennedy family mourned the loss of a bright environmental journalist, a loving mother, and a woman whose life was marked by resilience amid relentless sorrow.

Tatiana’s story is a stark reminder that even those born into privilege are not immune to tragedy. The Kennedy curse, a phrase often whispered in relation to the family’s history, claimed yet another victim. Caroline Kennedy now bears the weight of losing her father, mother, brother, and daughter—more grief than any one person should endure.

This legacy of loss, intertwined with public service and hope, continues to captivate and move the world. Tatiana’s life, though brief, left a powerful imprint—one of strength, love, and the enduring human spirit amid heartbreak.