Peace corps founder and former vice-presidential candidate Robert Sargent Shriver ’38 LAW ‘41 died today at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. Shriver was hospitalized Sunday night, and had been in “critical condition” until passing away this afternoon.

Shriver suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for years, after having been diagnosed in 2003. However, the cause of his death has not been released.

“He was a man of giant love, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment,” Shriver’s family said in a statement. “No one ever came into his presence without feeling his passion and his enthusiasm for them.”

Shriver married Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s sister, and launched the Peace Corps during Kennedy’s presidency. He was presidential candidate George McGovern’s running mate in the 1972 election.

Under President Lyndon Johnson, Shriver led the “War on Poverty” and created programs including Head Start and Legal Services. He and his wife also founded Special Olympics International.

While at Yale, Shriver was chairman of the Yale Daily News.