The Cleveland Plain Dealer has reported that she was taken off life support at a hospital shortly after noon today, after apparently suffering a brain aneurism last night.
She hired me for my first job as a prosecutor, back in 1995. I volunteered on her first Congressional campaign in 1998, and she’s been my congresswoman ever since. She was smart, politically savvy, big-hearted and strongly committed to her constituents on the East Side of Cleveland. I saw her just last week at a Democratic Party function, and spoke to her briefly. She was filled with enthusiasm for the 2008 campaign. Although an early supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton, she was determined to see Sen. Barack Obama occupy the White House in January.
There seem to be conflicting news reports on this. The Washington Post ran a short obituary half an hour ago, but CNN has a “Breaking News” banner that says she is alive but in critical condition.
Before my parking lot assignment was changed, I drove past her house every day on my way to and from work. Awesome house left me in a severe case of real estate lust. She had excellent taste.
Wow, what is it with brain aneurysms recently? Last month the daughter a close friend of my mom’s had one, and is still nearly a vegetable; two weeks ago one of my husband’s employees had one, and is still in a coma; and now Congresswoman Tubbs Jones.
It’s just an awful thing to happen. As someone who occasionally transcribes congressional hearings, she wasn’t my favorite because she asked some of the most loaded and aggressive questions I have ever heard in that forum, but that doesn’t lessen my sympathy for her and her family for this awful thing.
My mother and brother both died this way. I was with my mother when it happend. She just said “Ooh, I have a headache” and then collapsed. She was breathing for while but really she was dead from that moment.
Yes, it’s now officially been confirmed (and the Plain Dealer has run into a lot of criticism for announcing her death prematurely). In any event, she was a great lady, and I mourn her.
Oh my god! I can’t believe it! I had heard earlier that she was in the hospital but they weren’t saying why. This is really awful. What a great lady. A huge loss for Cleveland and Ohio.
Do you know if Lakewood is in your same district? My brother lives in an apartment building that at one time was fairly ritzy, and has a view of the lake. I’ve just sent an email with my condolences, but I’m not sure whether or not she was his congress-critter. Regardless, though, she was a fine person - an honest and enthusiastic servant of the people. I’m sorry we’ve lost her.
On the practical side, I hope the Democrats are able to field a viable candidate for the November election to replace her. I’m not familiar with your local politics, but surely there must be a local mayor or councilman looking to move up, who has virture and credibility as Ms Jones did. I hope?
I was so saddened to hear the news this evening. She struck me as being a fierce advocate for the people in her district. What a huge loss. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
I believe that Lakewood is in Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s district. There are more than a few local politicos who would, after a decent interval, be salivating at the chance to serve in Congress. One of the most prominent, a state senator, just accepted an appointment to a vacancy on the court of common pleas, however. It’ll be interesting to see if he has a sudden change of plans.
Yeah, my brother said that she had not been his Congresswoman, but that she had been a judge in the area, she was certainly well-known and well-liked, and would be much missed as a ‘thoughtful, honest and enthusiastic member of congress.’ She is a great loss to us all.
