Family Life
Rehnquist's paternal grandparents immigrated separately from Sweden in 1880. His grandfather Olof Andersson, who changed his surname from the patronymic Andersson to the family name Rehnquist, was born in the province of Värmland and his grandmother was born Adolfina Ternberg in Vreta Kloster (parish) in Östergötland. Rehnquist is one of two Chief Justices of Swedish descent, the other being Earl Warren, who had Norwegian-Swedish ancestry.
Rehnquist married Natalie "Nan" Cornell on August 29, 1953. She died on October 17, 1991, after suffering from ovarian cancer. The couple had three children: James, a lawyer and former college basketball star, Janet, a lawyer, and Nancy, who worked as an editor on many of her father's books. At the time of his death Rehnquist was survived by nine grandchildren, one of whom, Natalie Lynch, delivered one of the eulogies at his funeral.
Rehnquist purchased a home in Greensboro, Vermont, where he spent the summer court recess with his family.
Read more about this topic: William Rehnquist
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