Who is Tatiana Schlossberg?

Early Life and Ancestry

Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg was born on May 5, 1990 in New York City, into one of the most storied families in American history. She was the daughter of Caroline Kennedy – author, diplomat, and eldest child of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – and Edwin Schlossberg, a designer and author. As a granddaughter of JFK and Jackie O, Tatiana grew up in a household uniquely shaped by public service, intellectual curiosity, and creative expression.

Education and Early Intellectual Development

From a young age, Tatiana displayed a passion for writing and inquiry. She attended prestigious private schools in New York, and her drive toward rigorous intellectual engagement led her to Yale University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in history – a subject that would continue to influence her thinking. After Yale, she expanded her academic horizons abroad, completing a Master of Studies in American History at the University of Oxford, equipping her with a global and interdisciplinary perspective.

During her time in academia, Schlossberg honed her voice – blending meticulous research with accessible prose – skills she would later bring to journalism and authorship. Her early writing hinted at a deep interest not only in history but also in how systems – social, political, and environmental – shape human lives.

A Career in Journalism

Tatiana Schlossberg’s professional life was defined by her work as a journalist, with a focus on science, climate, and environmental reporting.

Breaking Into Professional Reporting

Her journalistic journey began with internships at publications like the Vineyard Gazette and later work at The Record in New Jersey, where she cut her teeth on municipal reporting. In 2014, she entered the newsroom of The New York Times, initially as a summer intern before being hired as a reporter.

At the Times, she covered a range of topics — particularly science and climate — but her approach was notable for blending clarity with depth, avoiding alarmism while unpacking complex issues. Her reportage demonstrated that environmental challenges are not abstract phenomena but deeply interwoven with human systems and behaviors.

“Inconspicuous Consumption”: An Influential Book

In 2019, Schlossberg authored Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have, published by Grand Central Publishing. The book became a breakout work in environmental literature, offering readers an accessible, systems-oriented understanding of how everyday choices contribute to planetary change. It won the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists in 2020, a testament to both her analytical rigor and her ability to speak to a broad audience.

Rather than focusing on doom-laden narratives, Schlossberg examined hidden dimensions of environmental harm — from the energy behind digital technologies to the embedded carbon in global supply chains — prompting many to rethink what sustainability truly means in a hyper-connected world.

Expanding Influence Through Writing

Beyond her book, Schlossberg wrote for various prestigious publications, including The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg News, and others. Her essays and long-form reporting combined scientific literacy with cultural observation, identifying patterns in how policy, innovation, and everyday life intersect with environmental outcomes.

Her voice stood out for its nuance — recognizing that effective environmental communication requires clarity without oversimplifying the structural complexities at play.

Personal Life and Family

In September 2017, Tatiana married Dr. George Winchester Moran, a physician. The couple’s partnership blended intellectual curiosity with a shared commitment to community. They had two children: a son, Edwin Garrett Moran, born in 2022, and a daughter, Josephine, born in May 2024.

Despite her public identity as a journalist and Kennedy family member, Tatiana valued her privacy, especially as a mother. Her writing and work reflected a grounded, reflective sensibility — curious about the wider world yet rooted in the daily realities of family life.

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Tatiana’s life underwent an abrupt and devastating shift in May 2024, when doctors discovered she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML) just after the birth of her daughter. The diagnosis came as a shock — she was 34, active, and, until that moment, had felt healthy.

In an essay published in The New Yorker on November 22, 2025, titled “A Battle With My Blood,” she revealed her condition in deeply personal, eloquent prose. Her diagnosis involved a rare mutation (called Inversion 3), complicating treatment and limiting options.

Despite undergoing chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, clinical trials, and experimental CAR‑T-cell therapy, Schlossberg’s doctors ultimately told her she had about a year to live. Her essay was at once an account of medical battle and a reflection on mortality, motherhood, and memory — capturing the anguish of knowing time was limited while cherishing every moment with her children.

Courage and Critique

Tatiana’s final essays were remarkable for their dual honesty and intellectual breadth. In addition to chronicling her personal journey, she did not shy away from political critique: she condemned policies by her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., then serving as the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, arguing that cuts to research funding — particularly in vaccine and medical research — posed real dangers to patients like her. This critique underscored her commitment to truths that mattered beyond her immediate circle, unafraid of confronting difficult questions even as she lived with profound vulnerability.

Legacy and Passing

On December 30, 2025, Tatiana Schlossberg died at age 35 after her long battle with leukemia. Her family announced her passing through the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, sharing that “Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning. She will always be in our hearts.”

Her funeral was held on January 5, 2026, at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan — the same church where her grandmother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ funeral had taken place. Family, friends, and public figures gathered to honor her life, faith, and profound contributions.

Reflections on Impact

Tatiana Schlossberg’s legacy is multifaceted:

As a journalist, she brought clarity to complexity, especially within environmental systems and climate reporting.
As an author, she challenged readers to see the interconnectedness of their everyday actions with larger planetary outcomes.
As a public figure, she navigated heritage and individuality with dignity – acknowledging her family’s place in history without letting it define her work entirely.
In her final writings, she confronted illness with honesty and grace, leaving behind a body of work that spoke as much to human resilience as to environmental urgency.