Tatiana Schlossberg, Environmental Journalist and Granddaughter of JFK, Dies at 35
Tatiana Schlossberg, known for her work as an environmental journalist and as the granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, passed away on Monday at the age of 35 due to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as confirmed by her family.
She was the daughter of Caroline Kennedy and designer Edwin Schlossberg and had disclosed her terminal diagnosis just six weeks prior in an essay for The New Yorker, released on November 22—marking the anniversary of her grandfather’s assassination.
Born in New York City on May 5, 1990, Schlossberg grew up within one of America’s most prominent political families. Nevertheless, she aimed to establish her own identity as a writer concentrating on climate change and environmental issues, reflecting her upbringing.
Schlossberg graduated from Yale University and later earned a master’s degree in American history from the University of Oxford. She worked as a science and climate reporter for The New York Times and also contributed to several other liberal publications, including The Atlantic and The Washington Post.
In 2019, she authored a book that addressed the hidden ecological costs of everyday consumer choices, aiming to raise awareness about how modern life affects the environment.
In 2017, she married physician George Moran on Martha’s Vineyard, and together they had two young children.
Her battle with cancer began dramatically on the day she gave birth to her daughter. Shortly after delivery, doctors detected an unusually high white blood cell count, leading to an immediate AML diagnosis with a rare genetic mutation called Inversion 3. This specific subtype appears in less than 2% of cases and generally has a poorer prognosis.
For the next 18 months, Schlossberg underwent rigorous treatments including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant with stem cells donated by her older sister. She also took part in at-home treatments and a clinical trial for CAR-T cell therapy. Despite experiencing temporary remissions, her cancer would repeatedly relapse.
In November, her doctors informed her that the cancer was terminal, estimating she had about a year left to live.
In her essay for The New Yorker, Schlossberg shared the struggles of confronting a terminal illness as a young mother, expressed gratitude for her family’s support, and reflected on the sadness her diagnosis brought to a family already marked by loss and tragedy.
She is survived by her husband, George Moran; their two children; her parents, Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg; and her siblings, Rose and Jack Schlossberg.
