1921-2009: Eunice Kennedy Shriver devoted her life to the greater good of humanity...

There are few people that will live to know the impact they have had on the lives of others.

In fact, even those who begin to have a glimpse of the lives they have affected can never truly know how far reaching their legacy actually extends.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away in the early morning of August 11, 2009, at the age of 88.

With the mention of the Kennedy family name, Shriver may not be the first to come to mind. She lived her life in the shadow of her politically active brothers, and yet she toiled away in her own endeavors working for the greater good of humanity and creating a lasting place in history for herself.

In the early 1960’s Shriver had chance encounters with two women in a short period of time. Both of these women explained to Shriver that they had children with disabilities that were not allowed to attend mainstream summer camps.

This news lit a fire under Eunice and she decided to take on the problem as her own and do something about it.

It wasn’t long before she opened “Camp Shriver” at her Maryland farm. She worked tirelessly contacting people that might be interested in her camp, as well as those who would serve as counselors. In a time where most people with physical and mental disabilities were often institutionalized and forgotten about, Shriver wanted nothing more than to see these children have the same opportunity to experience life as her own.

What opened as a camp for 34 children saw great success, and eventually became the foundation for what we know today as the Special Olympics — an organization that now involves more than 2.5 million athletes worldwide.

Shriver once said, “Special Olympics athletes are spokespersons for freedom itself – they ask for the freedom to live, the freedom to belong, the freedom to contribute, the freedom to have a chance. And, of all the values that unite and inspire us to seek a better world, no value holds a higher place than the value of freedom.”

In her later years, while not confirmed, it was believed that Eunice suffered from Addison’s Disease. This disease, named after the doctor who discovered it, is a hormonal disorder. Most often the hormones that are effected include Cortisol and Aldosterone. These hormones together regulate blood pressure, the immune system, metabolism, and the general sense of well being.

The Shriver family issued a statement shortly after her death saying, “Inspired by her love of God, her devotion to her family, and her relentless belief in the dignity and worth of every human life, she worked without ceasing – searching, pushing, demanding, hoping for change. She was a living prayer, a living advocate, a living center of power… Her love will inspire us to faith and service always.”

In her own words: “The opportunities are so few”

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