Kennedy Family Holds Virtual Memorial for Granddaughter and Son After Fatal Accident

Maeve and Gideon McKean were honored with a virtual memorial after their tragic deaths earlier this month.

By Samantha Schnurr Apr 13, 2020 4:57 PMTags
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Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Kennedy family has mourned the loss of two beloved family members together while apart.

Following the tragic deaths of Maeve Kennedy Townsend McKean and her 8-year-old son, Gideon, earlier this month, their relatives celebrated them with a memorial service held via Zoom on Saturday.

"Saturday's service was heart-wrenching in every way, but also was beautiful as we celebrated the love of these two extraordinary lives. There was a lot of sharing. Thousands of loved ones, friends and family, joined the service via Zoom," Alan Fleischmann, the former chief of staff for Maeve's mother, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who remains very close to the family, said in a statement.

"The family came together along with friends—of all ages—and from across the globe. The service and the number of attendees is a testimony of the enduring love and loss that is Maeve and Gideon. The service captured their enduring vitality and vividness."

The 40-year-old mom of three was described by Fleischmann as "purpose-driven. She fought for things and challenged people, always in a positive and caring way. Some people are positive but have little impact; Maeve impacted everyone and everything around her."

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His statement noted, "Her best friend and life partner was her husband Dave." As for their late child, "Gideon was Dave and Maeve's son in every way. Gideon was precocious and curious; athletic, strong, and caring. Gideon loved being a big brother to Gabriella and Toby. Gideon had an unusual empathy for a young boy of his age."

David McKean previously explained his wife and son were playing kickball while the family was self-quarantining at her mom Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's Chesapeake Bay home.

"Gideon and Maeve were playing kickball by the small, shallow cove behind the house, and one of them kicked the ball into the water. The cove is protected, with much calmer wind and water than in the greater Chesapeake. They got into a canoe, intending simply to retrieve the ball, and somehow got pushed by wind or tide into the open bay," he wrote in an Instagram post on April 3. "About 30 minutes later they were spotted by an onlooker from land, who saw them far out from shore, and called the police. After that last sighting, they were not seen again. The Coast Guard recovered their canoe, which was capsized and miles away, at approximately 6:30 yesterday evening."

Mike Pont/Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Maeve and Gideon's bodies were later recovered. Maeve's cause of death was ruled an accidental drowning.

"Maeve turned 40 in November, and she was my everything. She was my best friend and my soulmate. I have already thought many times over today that I need to remember to tell Maeve about something that's happening," David wrote on Facebook. "I am terrified by the idea that this will fade over time. You could hear Maeve's laugh a block away—and she laughed a lot. She was magical—with endless energy that she would put toward inventing games for our children, taking on another project at work or in our community, and spending time with our friends."