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Former Peace Corps Director Robert Sargent Shriver Jr., who lived for more than two decades in Potomac, died Tuesday at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda surrounded by his family.

He was 95.

"He was a man of giant love, energy, enthusiasm, and commitment," his family said in a statement Tuesday. "He lived to make the world a more joyful, faithful, and compassionate place. He centered everything on his faith and his family. He worked on stages both large and small but in the end, he will be best known for his love of others."

Shriver's family said he died after years of decline due to Alzheimer's disease.

Maryland Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) said Shriver was a "great Marylander" in addition to being an inspiring national figure. Franchot served in the state legislature with Shriver's son Mark.

"He was just a wonderful, accessible, cheerful, person who accomplished more in his lifetime than almost any other American," Franchot said.

Of all the things he accomplished in his life, Robert Sargent Shriver was most proud of his public service-oriented family, Franchot said.

"With his passing, I think Mr. Shriver is one of the few Americans who lived as long as he did who left not only a great legacy but a great family," Franchot said.

A devout Catholic, Shriver attended Our Lady of Mercy Church in Potomac, where he was often seen with his wife Eunice Kennedy Shriver, until her death in 2009.

His pastor, the Rev. Monsignor William J. English said that even in failing health, Robert Sargent Shriver attended Mass with his family when he could and recalled seeing Shriver attend services in the past few months.

"When he was in good health he would come to Mass pretty much every day," English said, recalling many days of watching Shriver from behind the altar.

"He had a deep relationship with the Lord," English said.

The Shrivers also secured a grant from the Kennedy Foundation that allowed the Our Lady of Mercy School to begin a program that allowed students with disabilities to learn in the same classroom as their peers without disabilities more than 15 years ago, English said.

Born and raised in Westminster, Md., Shriver graduated from Yale University in 1938 and from Yale Law School in 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy for five years during World War II.

In 1953, Shriver married Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to then-Senator John F. Kennedy. When his brother-in law became president, Shriver served as the first director of the Peace Corps and also founded numerous social programs including VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), Head Start and the Job Corps.

Shriver was instrumental in running the War on Poverty during Lyndon Johnson's tenure as president, and served as the U.S. ambassador to France 1968 to 1970. Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968.

Robert Sargent Shriver was the nominee for vice president in 1972 on Democrat George McGovern's ticket and ran for president himself in 1976.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

The Shrivers lived in their Potomac home on Harrington Drive for more than 20 years.

Shriver lived the last years of his life at Sunrise at Fox Hill in Bethesda, according to the family's statement.

Shriver is survived by his children, Robert Sargent "Bobby" Shriver III, mayor of Santa Monica, Calif.; Maria Shriver, a former NBC journalist and wife of former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).; Chevy Chase resident Timothy P. Shriver, Special Olympics Chief Executive Officer; Bethesda resident Mark K. Shriver, a former Maryland delegate and director of U.S. programs for Save the Children; and Anthony Shriver, chairman of Best Buddies International; and 19 grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

"No one ever came into his presence without feeling his passion and his enthusiasm for them," the Shriver family said in a statement. "He loved God, he loved Eunice, he loved us, he loved anyone who was a servant of peace, justice or joy. He loved life."

Details on funeral services were not available Tuesday evening. The family has requested that donations in his honor be made to the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute at www.sargentshriver.org.

ccalamaio@gazette.net