In NJ, Patrick Kennedy—JFK's Nephew—Becomes A Dad Again

Written by Anthony Bellano

The Kennedy name lives on in Atlantic County, N.J. - and it lives on as the nation marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination on Friday. 

The wife of former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday afternoon, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center officials announced.

Amy Kennedy gave birth to Nora Kara Kennedy, the newest grandchild of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, at 3:11 p.m. at the Roger B. Hansen Center for Childbirth at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Campus.

She weighed six pounds, 11 ounces and was 18 and a quarter inches long, according to a hospital spokeswoman. 

“Amy and I are thrilled to welcome Nora to our family and are thrilled that both mom and baby are doing very well today.  Harper and Owen are so excited to meet their baby sister," Patrick Kennedy said in a prepared statement. "This is an important year for the Kennedy family, especially this week as we remember President John F. Kennedy."

Friday marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former president John F. Kennedy, Patrick's uncle.
 
"As we celebrate the birth of our daughter alongside our wonderful families, we honor the memories of those never far from our thoughts and turn a bittersweet time a whole lot sweeter," Kennedy said. "We want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of AtlantiCare and everyone who has sent their good wishes. We feel truly blessed.”

Kennedy served as a Congressman in Rhode Island's First Legislative District for 16 years. While in Congress, Kennedy supported dozens of bills to increase understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

In 2008, he and his father co-authored the Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act. 

It provides tens of millions of Americans who were previously denied care with access to mental health treatment. In the days after he left Congress, he co-founded One Mind for Research dedicated to dramatic enhancements in funding and collaboration in research across all brain disorders.

He and his wife now reside in Brigantine. 

Amy was born and raised in Absecon. She is a Penn State University graduate and a sixth grade teacher. 

They were married on July 15, 2011. Amy has a five-year-old daughter, Harper, from a previous marriage. Patrick and Amy's son, Owen, was born in April, 2012.

In October, Kennedy launched The Kennedy Forum to unite the community of mental health and urge today’s policy makers to act on behalf of those with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and addictions.