Meet Joe Biden’s Four Children, Including One Who Tragically Died of Illness – What Happened?
The former U.S. President’s story goes beyond politics. It’s a life shaped by love, loss, and the powerful role of fatherhood. Now, as he faces a serious illness, the lives — and losses — of his children reveal a story of resilience and heartbreak.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. He sought medical attention after experiencing urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a small nodule on his prostate.
Further testing revealed a Gleason score of 9, one of the highest grades on the scale for cancer severity. The disease is Stage 4, but reportedly “hormone-sensitive,” meaning it may still respond to treatment. Biden’s office stated, “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
As the 82-year-old weighs his next steps, the story of his children underscores the emotional strength he has carried through public service and private sorrow. Joe had three children with his first wife, Neilia: Beau, Hunter, and Naomi.
After Neilia and Naomi died in 1972, he raised his surviving sons alone. In 1977, he married Jill Jacobs, and they welcomed their daughter Ashley. Each of his children has left a distinct mark on his life — some through public achievements, others through deeply personal loss.
Ashley Biden
Ashley Blazer Biden, born on June 8, 1981, is Joe and Jill Biden’s only child together. Unlike her half-siblings, Ashley has kept a deliberately low profile while dedicating her career to social work and justice reform.
Ashley earned a degree in Cultural Anthropology from Tulane University, followed by a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Her early work focused on supporting marginalized youth. From 2006 to 2007, she served as an Employment and Education Specialist at West End Neighborhood House in Wilmington.
She then became an Education & Employment Liaison for Delaware’s Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families, where she worked on job training programs inside juvenile detention centers.
In 2012, Ashley became Executive Director of the Delaware Center for Justice, a nonprofit advocating for people impacted by the criminal legal system. She remained there for seven years, focusing on reform, support for formerly incarcerated women, and systemic change.
Ashley once told Elle magazine in 2023 that she had “never wanted to be in the public eye” and added, “Yeah, I still don’t.” She said her focus is on amplifying other people’s stories and supporting the work of organizations making a difference.
Her social media bio reflects that same message, describing her as a social worker, criminal justice reformer, voter, proud family member, and devoted dog mom. She is married to Philadelphia surgeon Howard Krein.
Although she has often avoided the spotlight, she stepped into a more public role in 2019 when she left her nonprofit position to campaign for her father during his presidential run. Her behind-the-scenes involvement reflected both loyalty and personal conviction.
While Ashley has chosen a quiet life of advocacy, her half-brother has lived much of his adult life under intense public scrutiny.