Tatiana Schlossberg, an environmental journalist, author and granddaughter of former US President John F. Kennedy, died on Tuesday at the age of 35, her family announced.
“Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts,” the family said in a statement shared via the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Rare cancer diagnosis revealed weeks earlier
Schlossberg’s death comes just a month after she publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with a rare mutation known as Inversion 3, found in fewer than two per cent of AML cases.
In a deeply personal essay published in The New Yorker, she described learning of the diagnosis shortly after giving birth to her daughter in May 2024.
“I did not—could not—believe that they were talking about me,” she wrote, recalling that she had been active and healthy even in late pregnancy. She detailed the physical and emotional toll of intensive treatment, offering readers a stark insight into living with serious illness.
Career in climate and science journalism
A respected journalist and author, Schlossberg wrote extensively on science and climate issues. She previously reported for The New York Times, freelanced for several publications, and authored climate-focused newsletters aimed at increasing public awareness.
Her 2019 book, Inconspicuous Consumption, examined the hidden environmental costs of everyday choices and was widely praised for making complex climate issues accessible to readers.
(Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inconspicuous_Consumption)
Family legacy and personal reflections
Born into one of America’s most prominent political families, Schlossberg was the second daughter of Caroline Kennedy and designer Edwin Schlossberg. She was also the niece of the late Senator John F. Kennedy Jr.
In her essay, she reflected on the long history of tragedy associated with the Kennedy family, writing with honesty about the emotional weight her illness placed on her loved ones.
Schlossberg is survived by her husband, George Moran, their three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter. The family statement was signed by her husband, children, parents and siblings.
Her passing has been widely mourned by journalists, environmental advocates and readers who admired her clarity, empathy and commitment to public understanding.