Kym Maria Smith was born in 1972, the youngest child of Jean Kennedy Smith and Stephen Smith Sr. As the youngest of Jean's four children, she is a granddaughter of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She grew up in a family that balanced the weight of a historic political dynasty with the demands of private life in New York, where her parents were prominent social and civic figures.
Of all her siblings, Kym Smith has maintained the most private public profile, largely stepping away from the media attention that has followed successive generations of the Kennedy family. She has channeled her energies into philanthropic pursuits, participating in the charitable endeavors that have long been a hallmark of Kennedy family engagement.
Her mother, Jean Kennedy Smith, was herself a dedicated public servant, founding Very Special Arts — an organization supporting people with disabilities — and later serving as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Kym has carried forward the family's ethos of service while exercising a personal discretion that distinguishes her path from those of more publicly prominent cousins and siblings. Her commitment to privacy, combined with continued charitable work, reflects a Kennedy family tradition that runs alongside the more visible political careers: a quieter form of service rooted in community and compassion.
Kym Maria Smith is the child of Jean Kennedy Smith and Stephen Edward Smith.
Kym Smith's mother is Jean Kennedy Smith, daughter of Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy, who founded Very Special Arts and served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.
Kym Smith is known for maintaining a private profile while participating in Kennedy family philanthropic and charitable activities.