At a Glance
- 35-year-old environmental journalist and JFK granddaughter dies after acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.
- She revealed her cancer on Nov. 22 in The New Yorker and began a clinical trial in 2024.
- Family posted a heartfelt tribute: “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.”
- Why it matters: Her death highlights the personal toll of rare cancers and the resilience of public figures battling illness.
Tatiana Schlossberg, the 35-year-old environmental journalist and granddaughter of former President John F. Kennedy, died after a brief but intense battle with acute myeloid leukemia. The family’s social-media tribute and her own candid New Yorker essay underscore her courage and the impact of her work.
Career and Achievements
She worked for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post.
Her 2019 book, Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have, explored hidden ecological footprints.
She completed a 30-mile, 7-hour cross-country ski race in Wisconsin.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- May 25, 2024 – Diagnosed after giving birth to her second child; doctors noted a high white-blood-cell count.
- Five weeks at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
- Home chemotherapy followed by a bone-marrow transplant.
- Enrolled in a CAR T-cell clinical trial, where her doctor said she might live a year.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2024 | Diagnosis after second birth |
| Nov 22, 2024 | Published New Yorker essay |
| 2024 | Hospitalization, chemo, transplant |
| 2024 | CAR T-cell trial enrollment |
Family Tribute and Final Words
Family said:
> “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,”
Tatiana Schlossberg wrote:
> “During the latest clinical trial, my doctor told me that he could keep me alive for a year, maybe,”
Tatiana Schlossberg said:
> “Maybe my brain is replaying my life now because I have a terminal diagnosis, and all these memories will be lost. Maybe it’s because I don’t have much time to make new ones, and some part of me is sifting through the sands,”
Tatiana Schlossberg wrote:
> “I watched from my hospital bed as Bobby, in the face of logic and common sense, was confirmed for the position, despite never having worked in medicine, public health, or the government,”
Tatiana Schlossberg added:
> “I added that, given Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines and his public doubt over their safety, Schlossberg worried that, now that she was severely immunocompromised and needed to retake her childhood vaccines, she may not be able to access them.”
Legacy
She criticized her cousin, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him an embarrassment when he ran for president in 2024.
Her book and journalism raised awareness of environmental impacts often hidden from everyday life.
Her candid reflections on terminal illness while raising a young family left a lasting message about memory, resilience, and the human experience.
Key Takeaways
- Tatiana Schlossberg, 35, died after an acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.
- She was a prominent environmental journalist and JFK granddaughter.
- Her family tribute and New Yorker essay highlight her courage and impact.
Tatiana’s death reminds us that even public figures face the same harsh realities as anyone else when confronted with a life-threatening illness.
