US Senator Edward Kennedy has passed away at the age of 77 after battling a brain tumour. The Kennedy family announced the death in a brief statement this morning. Edward Kennedy was the younger brother of assassinated former President John F Kennedy. He was first elected to the Senate in 1962 and was an influential liberal voice on issues like healthcare, civil rights and war. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2008 and had successful surgery, but his health deteriorated and he suffered a seizure in January.