Eunice Kennedy Shriver | 1921-2009

Jean Kennedy Smith, left, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sisters of JFK and actress Lauren Bacall attend a party at the Sky Suites at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

(An earlier version of this caption identified Jean Kennedy Smith as Patricia Lawford.)  (Neshan H. Naltchayan / Agence France-Presse)

From left, Sargent Shriver, wife Eunice, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver celebrate Schwarzenegger’s victory in the gubernatorial recall election.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

As Maria Shriver looks on, Arnold Schwarzenegger thanks his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, at a meeting of members of his transition team before his inauguration as governor.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver arrives at the Golden Jubilee Gala of the Viennese Opera Ball at New York‘s Waldorf-Astoria hotel.  (Jennifer Szymaszek / Associated Press)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrates his reelection victory at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills on Nov. 9, 2006, with his mother-in-law, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and other supporters.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, with brother Sen. Edward Kennedy, is introduced during a forum in honor of Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, at the John F. Kennedy Presidential & Museum Library in Boston.  (Bizuayehu Tesfay / Associated Press)

The chairman of the Special Olympics, Timothy P. Shriver, left, and his mother, Eunice, view a promotional poster before the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. A record 7,300 athletes from 164 countries and regions would compete in 21 medal sports and four demonstration competitions at the games.  (Mark Ralston / Associated Press)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver speaks during a forum in her honor at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.  (Bizuayehu Tesfay / Associated Press)

A painting by artist David Lenz in the National Portrait Gallery is titled “Rare Halo Display: A Portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.” Pictured from left are Airika Straka, Katie Meade, Andy Leonard, Loretta Claiborne, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Marty Sheets.  (David Lenz / National Portrait Gallery via Associated Press)