This portrait shows Eunice Kennedy Shriver with several Special Olympics athletes. Courtesy: David Lenz
On August 11th 2009, Americans across the country mourned the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
UMBC’s very own Joby Taylor, Director of the “Shriver Peaceworker Program” mourned Shriver’s passing in an opinion letter published by the Baltimore Sun.
Joby Taylor is the Director of the Shriver Peaceworker Program at UMBC
In this letter, Taylor spoke of Shriver’s accomplishments most specifically her founding of the Special Olympics. Taylor wrote, “In 40 years, Special Olympics has gone from a backyard program at Mrs. Shriver’s Maryland home to a program that engages millions in nearly every country on the planet. It has changed policies and increased human rights around the world.”
Shriver was inspired to found the Special Olympics, by her relationship with sister Rosemary. Rosemary possessed developmental disabilities and was remembered by family and friends as very close to Eunice.
In his letter Taylor continued explaining Shriver’s role in erasing prejudices towards the developmentally disabled, “[Shriver’s Special Olympics program] has changed the way we all view and relate to people of different abilities, and by extension, she paved a way for us to confidently cross all kinds of boundaries of human difference…Mrs. Shriver showed us that playing together leads to understanding each other, and that understanding is the cornerstone of a more just, happy and peaceful world.”
Taylor, who has met Shriver several times described her as “a perfect example of what passion and focus can accomplish.” Despite Shriver’s connections as a member of the Kennedy family – her passion to create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities was greater than any Taylor had experienced in the past. He remarked, “I’ve never met anyone so passionate in their pursuit. She didn’t know the word can’t.”
Taylor closed his chat with TRW with the following remarks regarding Eunice Kennedy Shriver, “I just think – all of us hope to leave a mark on the world – she certainly has done that – she has left a tremendous legacy that will continue to make the world a better place.”
Shriver’s son Anthony Shriver went on to found Best Buddies , an organization that works to develop friendships between disabled and non disabled individuals. Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her husband Sargeant Shriver are responsible for founding UMBC’s Shriver Center.
To learn more about Eunice’s life and accomplishments visit http://www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/
