The Kennedy Family Tree
✝ Tragic or Untimely Death

Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean

2011–2020

Key Facts

Born
2011
Died
2020
Cause of Death
Drowned in Chesapeake Bay canoe accident (same incident as mother)
Kennedy Parent
Maeve Kennedy McKean

Biography

Life and Tragedy

Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean was born in 2011, the son of Maeve Kennedy McKean and David McKean. He was the great-grandson of Robert F. Kennedy. On April 2, 2020, during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gideon and his mother Maeve went out on a canoe on the Chesapeake Bay near their home in Shady Side, Maryland. The canoe capsized in rough water. Both Maeve and Gideon drowned. He was eight years old. The family had noted that the pair had paddled out to retrieve a ball that had landed in the water. Their deaths in the same accident were a devastating blow to the Kennedy family and to the many communities they served.

Family Context

Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean is the late child of Maeve Kennedy McKean and David McKean.

Siblings

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Gideon McKean die?

Gideon McKean drowned on April 2, 2020, in the Chesapeake Bay near Shady Side, Maryland, along with his mother Maeve Kennedy McKean, when their canoe capsized. He was eight years old.

Who are Gideon McKean's parents?

Gideon McKean is the son of Maeve Kennedy McKean, granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, and David McKean, former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.

Family

Maeve Kennedy McKean1979–2020
David McKean
Gideon Joseph Kenned…2011–2020
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