Eunice Kennedy Shiver died around 2 am today after suffering from a series of strokes. Eunice was 88 years-old, the younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, the mother of California First Lady Maria Shriver Schwarzenegger, and the founder of the Special Olympics in 1968.

Shriver organized the first Special Olympics in 1968, inspired in part by the struggles of her mentally disabled sister, Rosemary. Shriver’s son, Tim, now runs the Special Olympics, and her husband, Robert "Sargeant" Shriver, Jr., the first director of the Peace Corps, also survives her, along with their five children and 19 grandchildren.

Thank you for doing so much good for your fellow man and woman. You will be missed Eunice.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver was admitted on Nov. 18 to Massachusetts General Hospital. Eunice is the sister of President John F. Kennedy, and is said to be in fair condition. Eunice’s son-in-law, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, said back in June that she was recovering from a series of strokes. The chief of staff for Shriver’s daughter, Maria Shriver, says the 86-year-old has had a number of health challenges recently and "in every case, she’s bounced back."

Eunice Shriver founded the Special Olympics and helped transform America’s view of the mentally disabled. She was last in the public eye just two days before she was hospitalized. Get well soon. Those Kennedys are like the Energizer bunny. They just keep going and going and going.