Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Jeanne Bessette-Kennedy (January 7, 1966 – July 16, 1999) was the wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr.
, the son of U.S. President
John F. Kennedy
and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
.
, Westchester County, New York
, the youngest child of William J. Bessette and Ann Messina Freeman, an administrator
in the New York City public school system. She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut
, and attended St. Mary's High School, where she was voted an "All-Around Beautiful Person". She graduated from Boston University
in 1988. While at Boston University she met and dated John Cullen
, an NHL player.
She had two older sisters, twins Lauren and Lisa Bessette.
while at work. The couple became a popular paparazzi
target, with gossip columns detailing where they ate and shopped and even covering the arguments they had. Photographers waited outside the couple's Tribeca
apartment to snap photographs. She was reportedly uncomfortable with the media frenzy and the repeated comparisons to her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Bessette and Kennedy were married on September 21, 1996 on Cumberland Island
, Georgia
in a historic Baptist
church. Their wedding was private and secret in an effort to elude the media.
Carolyn's wedding dress, designed by a young Narciso Rodriguez
, landed a spot on many best dressed lists and her style of bridal gown is still emulated today. She was known for her minimalist style as well as her support for young designers such as Yohji Yamamoto
.
off Martha's Vineyard
. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the crash was: "[John Kennedy Jr.'s] failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation." Their ashes were scattered from the Navy ship USS Briscoe
off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
, daughter-in-law of John's aunt Lee Radziwill
, published her memoirs, titled What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love including her memories of the plane crash that took place just weeks before her own husband's death from cancer. Before marrying Kennedy, Bessette was in a relationship with Calvin Klein model Michael Bergin
, who wrote a memoir about the couple's relationship called The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me, which was published in 2004.
John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. , often referred to as John F. Kennedy, Jr., JFK Jr., John Jr. or John-John, was an American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot. The elder son of U.S. President John F...
, the son of U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
.
Early life
Carolyn Jeanne Bessette was born in White PlainsWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, the youngest child of William J. Bessette and Ann Messina Freeman, an administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
in the New York City public school system. She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, and attended St. Mary's High School, where she was voted an "All-Around Beautiful Person". She graduated from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in 1988. While at Boston University she met and dated John Cullen
John Cullen
John Cullen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a standout player for Boston University and is the school's all-time leading scorer...
, an NHL player.
She had two older sisters, twins Lauren and Lisa Bessette.
Marriage
After college, she worked as a saleswoman at the Calvin Klein store in Boston before being transferred to the corporate office/headquarters in New York, where she worked as a publicist and met John F. Kennedy, Jr.John F. Kennedy, Jr.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. , often referred to as John F. Kennedy, Jr., JFK Jr., John Jr. or John-John, was an American socialite, magazine publisher, lawyer, and pilot. The elder son of U.S. President John F...
while at work. The couple became a popular paparazzi
Paparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
target, with gossip columns detailing where they ate and shopped and even covering the arguments they had. Photographers waited outside the couple's Tribeca
TriBeCa
Tribeca is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. Its name is an acronym based on the words "Triangle below Canal Street", and is properly bounded by Canal Street, West Street, Broadway, and Vesey Street...
apartment to snap photographs. She was reportedly uncomfortable with the media frenzy and the repeated comparisons to her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Bessette and Kennedy were married on September 21, 1996 on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island is one of the Sea Islands. Cumberland is the largest in terms of continuously exposed land area of Georgia's barrier islands. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia and is part of Camden County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in a historic Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church. Their wedding was private and secret in an effort to elude the media.
Carolyn's wedding dress, designed by a young Narciso Rodriguez
Narciso Rodriguez
Narciso Rodriguez III is an American fashion designer.Rodriguez is the first child and only son of Cuban parents Narciso Rodríguez II, a longshoreman, and Rawedia María Rodríguez who are of Canarian descent. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey. His parents were against Narciso entering fashion: "They...
, landed a spot on many best dressed lists and her style of bridal gown is still emulated today. She was known for her minimalist style as well as her support for young designers such as Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto
Yōji Yamamoto , is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. Yohji is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and he has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer...
.
Death
On July 16, 1999, Carolyn died, along with her husband and older sister Lauren, when the Piper Saratoga II HP Kennedy was piloting crashed into the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
off Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the probable cause of the crash was: "[John Kennedy Jr.'s] failure to maintain control of the airplane during a descent over water at night, which was a result of spatial disorientation." Their ashes were scattered from the Navy ship USS Briscoe
USS Briscoe (DD-977)
USS Briscoe , named for Rear Admiral Robert Pearce Briscoe USN, was a built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was laid down 21 July 1975, launched 28 December 1976 and commissioned 3 June 1978. The ship operated out of Norfolk, Virginia...
off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.
Remembrances
In 2005, Bessette-Kennedy's close friend Carole RadziwillCarole Radziwill
-Career:DiFalco began her news career at ABC in New York in 1986 as an unpaid intern in postproduction for 20/20, a news magazine show. She was later assigned to "Close Up" as a production secretary...
, daughter-in-law of John's aunt Lee Radziwill
Lee Radziwill
Caroline Lee Bouvier Canfield Radziwill Ross best known as Lee Radziwill, is an American socialite, public relations executive, and former actress and interior decorator. She is the younger sister of the late First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis...
, published her memoirs, titled What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love including her memories of the plane crash that took place just weeks before her own husband's death from cancer. Before marrying Kennedy, Bessette was in a relationship with Calvin Klein model Michael Bergin
Michael Bergin
Michael John Bergin, , is considered to have been one of the first males to have achieved supermodel status, previously reserved for women such as Cindy Crawford, Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell, and Iman....
, who wrote a memoir about the couple's relationship called The Other Man: John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Me, which was published in 2004.