Obama’s Grandma: Truly a Phenomenal Woman
OK people, I haven’t slept a wink since getting home last night and I’m all doped up with coffee from Starbucks. But since this is election day, lets all take a little time to pay tribute to the late Madelyn Dunham, better known as “Toot” by Senator Barack Obama and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng. Yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama’s grandmother who helped raised him, died peacefully from her long battle with cancer. Last week when Obama returned to Honolulu to be by her bedside where she was in hospice care in her apartment.
Obama’s campaign reported the death of Madelyn Dunham, 86, on November 3rd, as he arrived in Charlotte NC for the second of two campaign rallies he had scheduled. It was reported that she passed at her home in Honolulu between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern time.
When I think about Mrs. Dunham and her remarkable life, I can’t help but wonder and admire what it must have been like being a woman and being part of the state’s white minority in Hawaii at the time.
“Was she ambitious? She had to be to become a vice president,” said Clifford Y.J. Kong, 82, who was a senior credit officer at the bank at the time. “She was a top-notch executive to get appointed. It was a tough world.”
The Illinois senator’s campaign issued a statement under his name and that of his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng:
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer. She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.
“Our family wants to thank all of those who sent flowers, cards, well-wishes, and prayers during this difficult time. It brought our grandmother and us great comfort. Our grandmother was a private woman, and we will respect her wish for a small private ceremony to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation to any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.”
Mrs. Dunham blazed a feminist trail in Hawaii banking circles becoming one of the first female vice presidents. I think about my own grandmother and the sacrifice she’s made for our familiy. Lets all take this time to honor, remember, and celebrate these women. Where would we be without them?
“Rosa Park sat so Dr. King could walk. Dr. King walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our kids can fly. Don’t forget to vote!”
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[...] Obama… “Yes We Can”. Yesterday when I wrote about Obama’s grandmother Toot, I thought about my own grandmother, 83, who voted in New York and tears began to fall. My heart [...]
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