Democratic representative Gerry Connolly from Virginia died, announced his office on Wednesday morning. He was 75 years old.
“With immense sadness that we share that our devotee and loving father, husband, brother, friend and public servant, congressman Gerald E. Connolly, died peacefully at home this morning surrounded by family,” reads a statement from his family.
Connolly had served in Congress since 2009. He was a champion of federal workers, retreating in recent months against the Trump administration and the revision of Elon Musk’s government.
“We were lucky to share Gerry with northern Virginia for almost 40 years because that was his joy, his purpose and his passion. His absence will leave a hole in our hearts, but we are proud that the work of his life will last for future generations,” said his family.
Representative Gerry Connolly attends an audience of the Chamber Rules Committee on the procedures for the next votes in the United States Capitol, on June 28, 2021 in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Last month, Connolly said he was renouncing the upper democratic position in the influential supervision committee of the House of Representatives because his cancer had returned. Connolly had defeated New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the president of the Committee in December.
He had been diagnosed with esophagus cancer in November.
“When I announced my diagnosis six months ago, I promised transparency,” he said in his statement last month. “After exhausting treatments, we have learned that cancer, although initially defeated, has now returned. I will do everything possible to continue representing it and thanks for your grace.”
