Decades after the tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr., his former chief of staff, RoseMarie Terenzio, continues to reflect on the "what ifs" of his life and career. Terenzio, who worked for Kennedy Jr. for five years at George magazine, still contemplates what might have been.
"The ‘what if’ never goes away, no matter what. It’s always that feeling of like, ‘Where would I be now? What would I be doing?'" Terenzio told The Post. She believes that if he were alive, she would likely be involved in building a presidential library in New York.
Terenzio recalled learning of Kennedy Jr.'s political ambitions when she inquired about his potential run for New York City mayor. He responded by questioning how many mayors go on to become president. The Bronx native, author of the memoir “Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss,” stated that Kennedy Jr. had expressed a desire to first serve as governor of New York. They had discussed this possibility, with Kennedy Jr. viewing the role of governor as akin to a CEO running a state, offering more autonomy than a senatorial position.
Terenzio was present at Kennedy Jr.'s Tribeca loft, where he resided with his wife Carolyn Bessette, on the night of the plane crash that claimed their lives and that of Bessette’s sister, Lauren. She had been invited to stay at the apartment by Kennedy Jr. after he overheard her struggling to get her air conditioner fixed on a hot day.
Early the following morning, Carole Radziwill, wife of Kennedy Jr.'s cousin and close friend Anthony, contacted Terenzio at the apartment to report that the couple had not arrived at their destination. Terenzio described the situation as initially unfathomable, taking time to grasp the gravity of the loss.
At Kennedy Jr.'s funeral, held at the Church of St. Thomas More on the Upper East Side, Terenzio witnessed the city's profound grief. When inquiring about a street closure, she was informed by a police officer that the avenue was shut down because "the whole city is in mourning."
She was asked to read at the funeral service, a task she found daunting, especially with President Bill Clinton in attendance. Terenzio also shared anecdotes illustrating Kennedy Jr.'s supportive nature, including an instance where he intervened after another executive assistant spoke disrespectfully to her. He reportedly approached the assistant and stated, "I heard you on the phone with Rosie and we don’t talk to each other that way."
Terenzio also recounted lighter moments, such as her initial uncertainty about how to refer to John F. Kennedy International Airport in his presence. After some hesitation, she asked which airport he wished to fly from, to which he replied, "Oh, I’ll fly out of Kennedy." This exchange led her to realize she should simply refer to it as "Kennedy."