It was New Year’s Eve in 1997. Most people were chilling out, getting ready for champagne and resolutions. But for the Kennedy clan, the day was ending in a way that felt eerily familiar to a family that has seen more than its fair share of darkness.
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy, the 39-year-old son of Robert F. Kennedy, was out on Aspen Mountain. He wasn't just skiing. He was playing football. On skis. Without a helmet.
If that sounds risky, it’s because it was. Honestly, it was a recipe for disaster that local experts had been begging the family to avoid for days. By the time the sun started dipping behind the peaks, the death of Michael Kennedy became a headline that shocked the world and reignited every "Kennedy Curse" theory ever whispered.
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The "Ski Football" Tradition That Went Wrong
The Kennedys aren't exactly known for playing it safe. They’re a family of "vigah," as JFK used to say. One of their traditions involved a high-stakes, high-speed game of football played while hurtling down intermediate ski runs.
On this particular Wednesday, about 30 family members were on the Copper Bowl run. It was late—around 4:15 p.m. The lifts had already stopped. The light was getting flat, making it hard to see the texture of the snow.
Michael was the "ringleader" of the game. He was actually filming the match with a handheld video camera while skiing. Think about that for a second. You're on skis, no poles, holding a camera, and trying to catch a "football" (which was actually just a water bottle wrapped in tape or snow).
"He skis off, he turns around to get a pass, he slams into a tree head-first, he falls down unconscious," recalled R. Couri Hay, a family friend who was standing just a few feet away.
It happened in a heartbeat. One second he was laughing, reaching for the bottle; the next, he hit a tree at high speed. No helmet. No chance.
Warnings Ignored: Hubris or Just Bad Luck?
Here is the thing that really gets people. This wasn't some freak, unpredictable accident.
The Aspen Ski Patrol had been on the family’s case all week. They knew the Kennedys played this game, and they knew it was dangerous. In fact, a senior official from the Aspen Skiing Co. had allegedly called Michael’s mother, Ethel Kennedy, the night before to ask her to make them stop.
They were told it was too fast. Too crowded. Too reckless.
But the Kennedys were experts. Michael was a great skier. He’d jumped off 75-foot cliffs into rivers as a teenager. He probably felt invincible.
When he hit that tree, the scene turned from a playground to a prayer circle. Several family members, including his sister Rory, dropped to their knees in the snow. Rory actually tried to give him mouth-to-mouth, but the damage was done. He had massive head and neck trauma.
A Career in Turmoil Before the End
While the death of Michael Kennedy is remembered as a tragedy, it’s hard to talk about his final year without mentioning the scandal that preceded it.
Michael had been a rising star. He ran Citizens Energy Corp., a non-profit that helped poor families heat their homes. He was the guy who helped his Uncle Ted win a brutal Senate race against Mitt Romney in '94. People thought he was the next Kennedy to go to Washington.
But 1997 had been a "bad year" long before the ski accident.
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In April, news broke about an affair Michael had with his children’s teenage babysitter. The allegations were heavy. It effectively ended his political aspirations and caused a massive rift in the family. His cousin, John F. Kennedy Jr., even called Michael and his brother Joe "poster boys for bad behavior" in an editorial.
By December, Michael was trying to rebuild. He’d been to rehab for alcohol and sex addiction. He was trying to win back his family’s trust. He went to Aspen to find some peace and connection with his kids. Instead, he found a pine tree.
The Aftermath and the Medical Reality
The logistics of the rescue were a nightmare.
- First Aid: The ski patrol arrived within four minutes.
- The Struggle: They lost his pulse on the way down the mountain in a toboggan.
- The Hospital: He regained a pulse briefly at Aspen Valley Hospital, but it was a losing battle.
- Pronounced Dead: 5:50 p.m.
The coroner, Tom Walsh, confirmed there were no drugs or alcohol in his system. He wasn't drunk; he was just playing a dangerous game.
His body was flown back to Massachusetts on a private jet (owned by Kevin Costner, weirdly enough). He was buried at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline.
Lessons We Can Actually Use
Look, we can talk about "curses" all day, but the death of Michael Kennedy teaches us some pretty grounded lessons about risk.
- Helmets aren't optional. In 1997, they weren't as common as they are now. Today, you rarely see a pro or an amateur without one. It might not have saved him from a high-speed neck injury, but it would have changed the odds.
- Ski Patrol warnings matter. They aren't there to ruin your fun; they’re there because they’ve seen how these stories end.
- Distracted skiing is deadly. Combining a camera, a football, and a downhill descent is a lot of "mental load" for a human brain to handle while moving at 20-30 mph.
If you’re heading to the slopes this season, remember that even "expert" status doesn't make you physics-proof. Tree wells, icy patches, and simple distractions can turn a New Year's celebration into a funeral in about three seconds.
To truly understand the impact of Michael's life, look at the work Citizens Energy still does today. Despite the scandals and the tragic end, his philanthropic footprint in Boston and beyond remained his most functional legacy.
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Next Steps for Safety and History:
If you're planning a trip to Colorado, check the latest National Ski Areas Association safety guidelines regarding helmet use and slope conduct. For more on the Kennedy family's public service history, the JFK Library archives offer a detailed look at Michael's work with Citizens Energy before 1997.