Joan Kennedy, the first wife of the late Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy whose life was marred by family hardships and personal struggles, died Wednesday at the age of 89.

Born Joan Bennett in Manhattan, she became a classically trained pianist and attended Manhattanville College, where she befriended Kennedy’s sister, Jean. That connection led to her meeting the future senator and subsequently marrying him in 1958. After Ted Kennedy graduated from law school and passed the bar, he pitched in on the campaign trail for his brother John’s presidential run in 1960. After the birth of her first child Kara, Joan Kennedy joined her husband. After John Kennedy was elected president, Ted Kennedy ran for his brother’s vacated senatorial seat. He and his first wife had two other children — Edward Jr. and

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