Louisa Livingston Kennedy 1934-2007 Today we sit in the arc of a great American woman, wife and mother, a fiery force of nature who helped galvanize Americans at the dawn of what we now understand as state-sponsored terrorism. Co-founder of FLAG – Family Liaison Action Group, she helped recast the politics of fear into a new humanism in 1979 and beyond. She flew in the face of a major news network which seemed to prefer to focus on hostages as political pawns rather than as human beings. Elegant, strong, and determined, she stunned major news anchors probing her for weakness with her courageous responses, refocusing the debate emotionally and spiritually. Her comment, when asked how she was coping with the potential imminent release of Dad from Iran, was that “her fingers were braided to the elbows” a quip that became the New York Times quote of the day on the day of Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration. As recently as last year, her arrows of truth graced the front page of the Washington Post after a prickly encounter with State Department lawyers, obviously in need of a more compassionate policy. Mom was a collector and interested in just about everything. Her flotsam and jetsam were, sometimes overwhelming for everyone else, but spoke of a life that wanted to be remembered as she carved her unique track through many continents and cultures. Her life was a giant collage of Classical music, amazing photo albums of Yemen and Greece in the 1960’s, Tintin key chains, jambias, masses of books, poetry, and 10,000 things; her eyes were the eyes of a colorist, an artist with an award winning sense of design, although the challenge ultimately, was, what to do with all the curiosities she acquired, for she filled many mansions in the kingdom of her house, most remarkably with correspondence from an enormous number of friends, that sometimes seemed to be piled so high that you could hardly find the phone or anything else – aah the chaos of so much love! Mom’s passing was as remarkable as her life. The daughter of the only American survivor of African sleeping sickness, she taught us remarkable things about dying and in doing so, about life. She reminds us now that we are always dying and being reborn into the presence and fullness of every moment. Perhaps she never finished her book on her founding father ancestors because, in fact, her own life was equally as interesting and full. Who can forget this towering amazon who refused to play tennis on the courts of the Imam of Yemen because of the heads hanging on the poles of the court, or who shooed away Druse militiamen in the mountains of Lebanon because they were interrupting her picnic, or who pointed out the direction of the fighting to American marines popping their heads out of tanks driving into Beirut. During her last week many of her visiting friends commented on the rays of Peace that flooded through her tourmaline green eyes. The nurses had never seen such a steady flow of visitors bearing gifts. Mom and Dad, thank you for giving Philip, Andrew and Duncan and me this beautiful life in this incredible place, with these amazing people that love you. Mom, We will miss you with all our hearts because we love you so much! Peace be with you always! Mark www.louisakennedy.com

LOUISA KENNEDY EULOGY Good Morning, Thank you for joining my family and me today in remembrance of my mother. There are too many words I could use in a tribute to my mother… so many memories to share . Today I will tell about her dream she had When I think about my mother, I realize that she lived a life quite outside the norm. Early on in their marriage my Dad announced he was going to be a career diplomat. My mom gleamed. A glamorous life to say the least, She thought. She dared to dream of dignitaries in London, five star restaurants in Paris, perhaps sipping wine in Venice. Perhaps an exotic life awaited her. Her first post was Yemen. SHE CRIED… As Muslim customs would have it she was reduced to a third class citizen, Not allowed to drive, 12 foot anaconda’s in the back yard an occasional beheading in the local market place. Her South Hampton world was gone.. . It was a rough start. But for all of us that know her… these were minor set backs. The Arab world and Louisa were to become great friends Having incurred a few stitches to her leg, her Ayden doctor forbade her to go swimming…well my mother had other plans. While swimming off the local beach, …she came upon a rather large barracuda . Scared she headed toward the shore in great haste…however there on shoreline directly in front of her was her Doctor she and the barracuda became great friends. She cried before every post. Picking up and moving every 2-4 years. 4 boys in tow, numerous foreign schools. household effects dragged around the world , strange languages. strange cultures. Yet she endured. Not only did she endure but she embraced her life. Our foreign posts got better . Greece , Lebanon, a 6 year stint in Washington and Chile. Life had become interesting again. From all these crazy corners of the world where she lived, she brought into our family many amazing and wonderful and fascinating friends. …many of you are here today. she never failed in all this upheaval to being a nurturing and devoted mother. She was a super mom. An amazing letter writer…sharing her life with all of us as separation was the norm. She taught a dog to sit in Arabic and one in Spanish, brought in stray pets that needed a home. Taught an Arabic cook to cook in English and chased a cat over the wall because it was bothering our Lebanese Donkey named Humphrey . No stepford mom was she. As a champion of my father, she did have a fabulous, exciting and exotic life. She charmed Arab princes, toured the world and as fate would have it be an Ambassador for all of us as the spokes person for the family liaison action group. She finally did get to go to Rome, Paris and London. fulfilled one of her life long dreams dinning with world dignitaries , namely The Pope, Mitterrand , and even an over night at 10 downing street with Margret Thatcher. She had earned the right She loved and adored her sons and treasured her time with her 6 grand children. She was a proud and beloved wife. Most of all she was always there for me. I love you Mom God bless you..

I,AS THE FUTURE MOTHER IN LAW OF HER SON,DUNCAN, MET LOUISA LATER IN HER LIFE. THIS WAS IN DECEMBER OF 1998. OUR DAUGHTER, KATHERINE, HAD MET DUNCAN AT A PARTY IN SAN FRANCISCO A FEW MONTHS BEFORE. IT APPEARED TO BE A QUICK AND SERIOUS ROMANCE!! JOE AND I WERE GOING TO BOSTON TO VISIT ANOTHER DAUGHTER, ANNE, AND HER FAMILY AFTER CHRISTMAS. KATHERINE AND DUNCAN WERE ALSO COMING FROM SAN FRANCISCO. IT SEEMED LIKE A SUITABLE TIME FOR THE ELDER KENNEDYS AND US TO MEET. LOUISA AND MIKE DROVE TO BOSTON FROM NORTHEAST HARBOR. LOUISA WALKED INTO THE HOUSE WITH A LIVELY, ASSURED, AND COMFORTABLE PRESENCE. I WAS TAKEN WITH HER EASY AND SOCIAL GRACE. FROM THAT MOMENT ON, LOUISA NEVER LOST THAT LOVELY GRACE IN HER COMMUNICATIONS WITH US.CHRISTMAS CARDS WERE ALWAYS FULL OF FUN FAMILY PICTURES AND AMUSING TITLES. I WAS IN AWE OF LOUIS'S ABILITY TO PICK JUST THE RIGHT GIFT FOR HER LOVED ONE. HOW DID SHE DO IT WITH SUCH EASE? AS HER DAYS CAME TO AN END, WE WERE PRIVILEGED TO SPEND SOME PRECIOUS MOMENTS WITH HER. I LOVED OUR TIME TOGETHER IN JULY AT NORTHEAST HARBOR. HER WONDERFUL SPIRIT SHONE THEN AS IT ALWAYS HAD. WE WILL REMEMBER HER WITH GREAT FONDNESS AND RESPECT.