Sargent Shriver, a Peace Corps founder, dies at 95

Robert "Sargent" Shriver, the father of former California first lady Maria Shriver, a founder of the Peace Corps and the force behind an array of organizations that aided millions of America's poor, disabled and disadvantaged, died Tuesday in Maryland. He was 95.

Mr. Shriver's death came after an 8-year-long battle with Alzheimer's disease that sparked intensive advocacy efforts championed by his daughter and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who sought to boost attention on a debilitating disease affecting millions of Americans and their families.

"He was a man of giant love, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment." Mr. Shriver's family said in a statement. "He lived to make the world a more joyful, faithful, and compassionate place. He centered everything on his faith and his family."

Mr. Shriver married into America's foremost political family of the 20th Century when he married Eunice Kennedy Shriver - the sister of John, Robert and Edward Kennedy.

He became the stand-in Democratic vice presidential candidate for George McGovern in 1972 after running-mate Thomas Eagleton dropped out of the race. McGovern lost the election to then-President Richard Nixon.

This week, Mr. Shriver entered a hospital in Bethesda, Md., surrounded by his family. In 2003, the Shriver family announced that he suffered from Alzheimer's. His wife, who founded the Special Olympics, died in 2009 at the age of 88.

During Mr. Shriver's struggle with the illness, Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver pushed for more public discussion of the disease and stem-cell research.

Alzheimer's not only robbed Mr. Shriver of his memories of his family but also his memories of his role in the public eye as a key Democratic Party leader, former Ambassador to France, and a force who touched millions of lives.

While Mr. Shriver was best known for founding and directing the Peace Corps, he also put his stamp on dozens of other organizations that aided scores of people in need of economic and educational aide in the U.S. and beyond.

In addition to heading the War on Poverty during the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Mr. Shriver served as a leading force in Head Start, VISTA, the Job Corps, Community Action, Upward Bound, Foster Grandparents, Neighborhood Health Services and the Special Olympics.

The National Clearinghouse for Legal Services, another of his projects, is now known as The Shriver Center.

In Sacramento and at her annual sold-out Women's Conferences, Maria Shriver often highlighted her family's deeply personal and painful experiences with Alzheimer's. She also was executive producer of the four-part, Emmy Award-winning series, "The Alzheimer's Project."

The series included a critically-acclaimed film called "Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?" The film was based on her 2004 best-selling book, "What's Happening to Grandpa?" - which aimed to help children deal with the impacts of the illness.

In 2007, Schwarzenegger backed a successful statewide initiative for stem-cell research funding, citing in the campaign his father-in-law's declining mental condition as a catalyst for his belief in the need for more backing of such efforts.

Maria Shriver serves as on the advisory board of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute, which offers training programs in public service.

E-mail Carla Marinucci at cmarinucci@sfchronicle.com.