Robert F. Kennedy ceased to be alive in June of 1968.
Robert Francis `` Bobby '' Kennedy ( November 20 , 1925 -- June 6 , 1968 ) , commonly known by his initials RFK , was an American politician from Massachusetts . He served as the United States junior senator from New York from January 1965 until his assassination in June 1968 . Shortly after midnight on June 5 , 1968 , after defeating Senator Eugene McCarthy in the California and South Dakota presidential primaries , he was mortally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan , a 24-year-old enraged Palestinian , and died the following day .