Tatiana Schlossberg Dies at 35 After Battle With Rare Leukemia

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, died Tuesday at the age of 35 following a courageous battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia.

Her death was announced by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where the family shared a brief but emotional message “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.”

Schlossberg, the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and designer Edwin Schlossberg, had worked as a journalist focused on climate and environmental issues. In a revealing essay published just weeks ago in The New Yorker, she disclosed her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) a fast-moving blood cancer typically found in older adults but one that tragically took her life at just 35.

Schlossberg’s illness was even more complex due to a rare genetic mutation, making it more difficult to treat. Only 4 in every 100,000 adults are diagnosed with AML each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The disease attacks bone marrow and blood cells, often progressing rapidly without early detection.

In the same essay, Schlossberg didn’t hold back her criticism of her own cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is currently serving as U.S. Health Secretary. She condemned his anti-vaccine stance and his role in cutting funding for cancer research, calling it both dangerous and irresponsible especially given the stakes she personally faced.

Her comments underscored the deep political and ideological rift within the Kennedy family, particularly as RFK Jr. continues to push controversial views under the banner of public health. Schlossberg’s death is now casting a harsh light on his legacy and choices in office, especially for those impacted by rare diseases like AML.

While new treatments are emerging including a recent FDA-approved drug ziftomenib, which has shown partial success in trials for patients with AML linked to the NPM1 gene mutation the disease remains highly lethal. Clinical trial data shows only about 21.4% of patients achieved full or near-full remission using the drug.

Tatiana Schlossberg leaves behind a legacy of thoughtful writing and principled advocacy and now, a family grappling with yet another tragedy in America’s most storied political dynasty.

For the Kennedy family, and for many Americans who followed her writing, this loss feels both deeply personal and emblematic of a healthcare system too often shaped by politics rather than people.

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