The last known photo of Tatiana Schlossberg before she passed has become a quiet monument to love, family, and resilience. Shared by the JFK Library Foundation on Instagram, the image shows Schlossberg sitting on the grass with her husband, George Moran, their two young children, Edwin and Josephine, and the family dog. It looks like an ordinary family snapshot. That is exactly why it feels so powerful.
Tatiana Schlossberg, the environmental journalist and author, died on Dec. 30 at the age of 35 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. The photo was posted shortly after her death, along with a caption that read, “As we remember Tatiana and celebrate her life, our hearts are with her family and all who loved her.” It was a message that carried grief, gratitude, and a sense of collective mourning.
© Elizabeth Cecil/jfklibraryfdn/InstagramIn the image, Schlossberg is smiling directly at the camera, calm and bright. Her husband looks at her with a wide grin, a small but telling detail that reveals how deeply connected they were in that moment. Their one-year-old daughter, Josephine, sits in his lap. Their three-year-old son Edwin stands behind his mother with his arms draped over her shoulders. The family is dressed casually, as if the photo was taken during a simple afternoon together.
The photo also arrived alongside a second slide in the JFK Library Foundation post. It featured an excerpt from Schlossberg’s 2019 book, “Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have.” In it, she wrote about the responsibility people have to the planet and to future generations. The words now read like a legacy statement, especially since she left behind two young children who will grow up in a world she cared deeply about.
"Her husband is always looking at her like she lights up the world. This wonderful woman knew tremendous love in her life. I am so sorry he lost someone he loved so much, as well as the tremendous loss to her children, siblings, parents," a fan wrote. "In this photo, there is no illness.There is a mother, there is love, and there is happiness.This is how we will remember you — present, radiant, beloved.🤍🙌❤️," a second added.
Tatiana Schlossberg’s Fight With Leukemia
Schlossberg was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Josephine, in May 2024. In a November 2025 essay for The New Yorker, she described the shock of hearing the news. She wrote that she could not believe the doctors were talking about her, calling her one of the healthiest people she knew.
© Craig BarrittHer treatment was intense and relentless. She went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as several bone marrow transplants. Her sister was a match and donated stem cells. Her brother, who was a half-match, still asked every doctor if he could help in any way. The story reveals a family that rallied around her with fierce devotion.
Schlossberg also wrote about her husband, George Moran, who is a doctor. She described how he took on every burden he could so she could focus on surviving. He handled doctors, insurance, and endless logistics. “He talked to all the doctors and insurance people that I didn’t want to talk to; he slept on the floor of the hospital; he didn’t get mad when I was raging on steroids and yelled at him that I did not like Schweppes ginger ale, only Canada Dry. He would go home to put our kids to bed and come back to bring me dinner,” she wrote.
© Tatiana SchlossbergHow the Public Is Remembering Tatiana Schlossberg
Since the photo was shared, people have been using it as a way to honor Schlossberg’s life. It has sparked conversations about cancer, motherhood, environmental responsibility, and the quiet heroism of caregivers. It has also reminded many of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing small moments.
Tatiana Schlossberg’s final known-to-date photo will likely be remembered for years to come. Not because it is tragic, but because it is tender. It captures a full life, even in its final chapter.
