oan was born on September 2, 1936, in New York City, into a devout Catholic family. From a young age, she demonstrated a deep passion for music and learning. She pursued her love for the arts by becoming a classically trained pianist and earned a master’s degree in education. Throughout her life, music remained a vital source of comfort and strength, a refuge she often turned to, following the advice of Jacqueline Kennedy, who encouraged her to “turn to the piano” whenever the pressures of life in the Kennedy family became overwhelming. Joan met Ted Kennedy in 1957 while attending Manhattanville College, introduced by his sister Jean Kennedy Smith. The couple married a year later, entering the intense spotlight as part of America’s most famous political dynasty. Joan, as the youngest wife of the youngest U.S. Senator at that time, quickly became a symbol…