Hoodoo
2005-01-19 02:30:03 UTC
Jan. 17, 2005
Associated Press
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/
It was the best-known secret in Jefferson.
The fact that Rosemary Kennedy lived at St. Coletta of Wisconsin,
that is.
Every time we'd pass Alverno - St. Coletta's nursing home - we'd
glance at the unassuming ranch house built for the oldest of
Joseph and Rose Kennedy's five daughters after she arrived at St.
Coletta in 1949.
The story is as familiar as it is tragic. Joseph Kennedy,
patriarch of the closest thing America's ever had to a royal
family, had his "mildly retarded" daughter undergo a lobotomy in
hopes of making her a little less, well, "slow." Sadly, such
"miracle" procedures rarely live up to their promises. At least
they didn't in Rosemary's case.
And so, at age 23, she came to live at St. Coletta ... and die in
Fort Memorial Hospital 57 years later.
There is no doubt Rosemary was St. Coletta's most well-known
resident: A member of the rich, famous and politically powerful
Kennedy family of Hyannis Port, Mass., she was the sister of the
late President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Bobby Kennedy, and
current U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. While biographies of the Kennedys
and the national press would say Rosemary had been sent to live
in a "Catholic institution in Wisconsin," everyone here knew it
was St. Coletta, on the outskirts of Jefferson.
And yet, considering her bloodline, Rosemary's presence rarely
raised an eyebrow in Jefferson County. The sisters and staff at
St. Coletta closely guarded Rosemary's privacy and the community
at large respected it, as well.
Oh, there'd be a few whispers when JFK would call Freddie
Birkholtz's greenhouse in Lake Mills to order flowers for
Rosemary's birthday or Eunice would stop in Jefferson for a
visit. And we've no doubt there was some talk a week ago Saturday
when Ted was seen breakfasting at Fort Atkinson's Stockade
Restaurant after a night's rest at the nearby Holiday Inn Express.
Yet, overall, the contacts were of fleeting interest to locals.
That was because, we think, Rosemary was our neighbor, and
neither she nor her family needed to add to the suffering they'd
endured throughout the years. That also was because, we think,
area residents' so respected how greatly the Kennedys supported
St. Coletta of Wisconsin and its cause.
We're not just talking about the $1 million given in honor of
Rosemary and her mother on Rose's 93rd birthday; that went toward
expanding Alverno, St. Coletta's nursing home just behind the
"Kennedy cottage." We're also talking about the way Rosemary's
siblings brought mental retardation out from behind the cloak of
misunderstanding and misguided shame that led to Rosemary's
lobotomy in the first place.
They did so by "going public" with their sister's story. Then,
inspired by her sister, Eunice Shriver became an activist on
behalf of disabled persons, founding Special Olympics in 1968 and
growing it from a backyard camp to an international venue for
developing and showcasing the athletic skills of some 1.4-million
people with intellectual disabilities. Her son, Anthony, created
Best Buddies, which matches developmentally disabled persons with
community members in an effort to improve how society views this
special population. And the family had a hand in forming the Very
Special Arts, as well.
We don't know whether Rosemary was aware of all the great things
that came out of her misfortune, but we do know that, thanks to
the devotion of her family and the sisters and staff at St.
Coletta, she had a full and worthwhile life ... and helped those
around her to have one, too.
Yes, Rosemary Kennedy was the best-known secret here for 57
years. Her legacy is that she will continue to be so for decades
to come. - DAILY JEFFERSON COUNTY UNION, Fort Atkinson.
Associated Press
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/
It was the best-known secret in Jefferson.
The fact that Rosemary Kennedy lived at St. Coletta of Wisconsin,
that is.
Every time we'd pass Alverno - St. Coletta's nursing home - we'd
glance at the unassuming ranch house built for the oldest of
Joseph and Rose Kennedy's five daughters after she arrived at St.
Coletta in 1949.
The story is as familiar as it is tragic. Joseph Kennedy,
patriarch of the closest thing America's ever had to a royal
family, had his "mildly retarded" daughter undergo a lobotomy in
hopes of making her a little less, well, "slow." Sadly, such
"miracle" procedures rarely live up to their promises. At least
they didn't in Rosemary's case.
And so, at age 23, she came to live at St. Coletta ... and die in
Fort Memorial Hospital 57 years later.
There is no doubt Rosemary was St. Coletta's most well-known
resident: A member of the rich, famous and politically powerful
Kennedy family of Hyannis Port, Mass., she was the sister of the
late President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Bobby Kennedy, and
current U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. While biographies of the Kennedys
and the national press would say Rosemary had been sent to live
in a "Catholic institution in Wisconsin," everyone here knew it
was St. Coletta, on the outskirts of Jefferson.
And yet, considering her bloodline, Rosemary's presence rarely
raised an eyebrow in Jefferson County. The sisters and staff at
St. Coletta closely guarded Rosemary's privacy and the community
at large respected it, as well.
Oh, there'd be a few whispers when JFK would call Freddie
Birkholtz's greenhouse in Lake Mills to order flowers for
Rosemary's birthday or Eunice would stop in Jefferson for a
visit. And we've no doubt there was some talk a week ago Saturday
when Ted was seen breakfasting at Fort Atkinson's Stockade
Restaurant after a night's rest at the nearby Holiday Inn Express.
Yet, overall, the contacts were of fleeting interest to locals.
That was because, we think, Rosemary was our neighbor, and
neither she nor her family needed to add to the suffering they'd
endured throughout the years. That also was because, we think,
area residents' so respected how greatly the Kennedys supported
St. Coletta of Wisconsin and its cause.
We're not just talking about the $1 million given in honor of
Rosemary and her mother on Rose's 93rd birthday; that went toward
expanding Alverno, St. Coletta's nursing home just behind the
"Kennedy cottage." We're also talking about the way Rosemary's
siblings brought mental retardation out from behind the cloak of
misunderstanding and misguided shame that led to Rosemary's
lobotomy in the first place.
They did so by "going public" with their sister's story. Then,
inspired by her sister, Eunice Shriver became an activist on
behalf of disabled persons, founding Special Olympics in 1968 and
growing it from a backyard camp to an international venue for
developing and showcasing the athletic skills of some 1.4-million
people with intellectual disabilities. Her son, Anthony, created
Best Buddies, which matches developmentally disabled persons with
community members in an effort to improve how society views this
special population. And the family had a hand in forming the Very
Special Arts, as well.
We don't know whether Rosemary was aware of all the great things
that came out of her misfortune, but we do know that, thanks to
the devotion of her family and the sisters and staff at St.
Coletta, she had a full and worthwhile life ... and helped those
around her to have one, too.
Yes, Rosemary Kennedy was the best-known secret here for 57
years. Her legacy is that she will continue to be so for decades
to come. - DAILY JEFFERSON COUNTY UNION, Fort Atkinson.
--
Being highly educated does not infer possession of intelligence
or knowledge when the information learned is squandered and
underutilized.
Being highly educated does not infer possession of intelligence
or knowledge when the information learned is squandered and
underutilized.