Maria Shriver has recently explained that she does not keep up with the large number of films, series, and books about her family, saying that doing so would effectively become a full-time job.
In an interview with People, Shriver and three of her brothers reflected on how they choose to engage with their family legacy. Rather than following the constant stream of media portrayals about the Kennedys and Shrivers, they say they prefer to focus on their own lives and continue the tradition of public service established by their parents, Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
© Frank TrapperThe family’s name remains a frequent subject in popular culture, including recent productions such as FX’s series ‘Love Story,’ which centers on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
That perspective is shaped by both practicality and principle. “If you tried to keep up with the amount of movies and TV shows and books on our larger family, that’s all your life would be about,” Maria Shriver said. “And if we went down that road, it’d be a full time job.”
The family’s name remains a frequent subject in popular culture, including recent productions such as FX’s series ‘Love Story,’ which centers on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. But for the Shriver siblings, the media attention is not the center of gravity in their lives.
© Ron GalellaMuch of this philosophy comes directly from their father.
Instead, they emphasize a shared commitment to service work that reflects their parents’ influence. Maria Shriver noted, “We’ve all worked really hard to work together to support both of our parents and their vision and continue to honor their legacy, keep it alive.”
That legacy is expressed through a wide range of philanthropic efforts. Maria founded The Sunday Paper and the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement. Bobby Shriver has worked as a philanthropist and co-founded the RED campaign with Bono.
© Amy SussmanMark Shriver, Maria Shriver, and Timothy Shriver
Tim Shriver serves as chairman of the Special Olympics. Mark Shriver helped establish the Save the Children Action Network and previously served as a high school president. Their younger brother Anthony Shriver leads Best Buddies International. Together, the siblings describe their work as interconnected rather than separate efforts, often collaborating across organizations.
As Maria put it, “We all work with each other. We go to visit Mark’s school. We work at Save the Children. I work at Special Olympics — Bobby’s on the board, he raises a lot of the money. And if we went down that [other] road, it’d be a full-time job.”
© Boston GlobeMaria Shriver at the grand opening of the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in 1971. She is flanked by her father and mother, Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy, and siblings Tim and Robert Jr.
Much of this philosophy comes directly from their father. Mark Shriver recalled his advice. “Daddy said, ‘Don’t pay any attention to it. Go do your work. If you can, go to mass.’ And that’s where you get the results.”
Tim Shriver expanded on that idea, describing their father’s focus on action over attention.
© Boston GlobeThe Shriver family from left, Maria Shriver, mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver, brother Robert Sargent Shriver III, brother Anthony K. Shriver and father Sargent Shriver.
“Daddy really understood that there was a larger narrative out there,” he said. “But his job was to kick ass and make a difference. And that relentless focus on making the difference in whatever way he could, whether it produced a child who has a head start, that was what mattered. The question is, did you make a difference?”
Maria echoed that sentiment, pointing to the challenges of modern information overload. “I think it’s a really good lesson. It’s noisy out there. And you can get pulled in a hundred different directions by a hundred different people and then end up in a mess yourself. Or you can stay focused. It’s a message I say to my kids.”
© BettmannChristopher Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Jr., Christopher Lawford, Sydney Lawford, Robin Lawford, Courtney Kennedy, Timmy Shriver, William Smith, Kara Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy holding Mark Shriver, Victoria Lawford, Mary Kerry Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Stephen Smith, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Robert Shriver and Maria Shriver.
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