Lawford, Patricia Kennedy (1924–)

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Lawford, Patricia Kennedy (1924–)

American socialite. Born 1924; dau. of Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969, financier, diplomat, and head of several government commissions) and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995); sister of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy (all politicians); graduate of Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, NY; m. Peter Lawford (actor), June 1954 (div. 1966, died 1984); children: Christopher Kennedy Lawford (b. 1955, independent film producer and actor); Sydney Maleia Lawford (b. 1956, former model who m. Peter McKelvy); Victoria Lawford (b. 1958, who m. Robert Beebe Pender); Robin Lawford (b. 1961, marine biologist).

After college, worked for a time for NBC in NY; became a production assistant for "Kate Smith Hour" (1951); following divorce (1966), concentrated much of her energy on charitable organizations.

See also Women in World History.