Former West Virginia governor and US senator Jay Rockefeller has died aged 89, after a political career spanning nearly five decades in the state he adopted as a young anti-poverty volunteer.
John D “Jay” Rockefeller IV died at his home in Washington on Thursday night, according to the Associated Press. His death was confirmed by Mary Stewart, vice-president for external affairs at WETA, where his wife, Sharon, is president and chief executive. No cause of death was given.
Rockefeller, a Democrat and member of one of America’s wealthiest families, served two terms as West Virginia governor before representing the state in the Senate for 30 years.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey ordered US and state flags at government buildings to be flown at half-mast until sunrise on Friday, November 13, in recognition of Rockefeller’s public service.
“West Virginia has lost a man who devoted much of his life to serving our state and its people,” Mr Morrisey said. He described Rockefeller’s career as spanning nearly five decades and said his legacy would remain an important part of the state’s history.
Rockefeller first arrived in West Virginia in 1964 as a Volunteers in Service to America worker, helping disadvantaged communities in Emmons, a mining community south of Charleston. He remained in the state and entered politics as a Democrat, despite coming from a prominent Republican family.
He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1966 and became secretary of state two years later. He served as governor from 1977 to 1985 before winning election to the US Senate, where he remained until retiring in 2015.
During his time in Washington, Rockefeller was closely associated with healthcare, mine safety, veterans’ benefits and efforts to strengthen West Virginia’s economy. He helped establish the Children’s Health Insurance Programme and supported measures aimed at improving benefits for coal miners suffering from black lung disease.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who succeeded Rockefeller in the Senate, said she was “deeply saddened” by his death and praised him as “a true gentleman” who treated her with “respect, kindness, and encouragement”.
Former senator and governor Joe Manchin described Rockefeller as a mentor who had helped him when he first sought a full Senate term in 2012.
“He showed me how to be an effective US senator and best represent our state,” Mr Manchin wrote in a statement.
Rockefeller’s long association with West Virginia also included support for West Virginia University, where programmes in policy, politics, healthcare and neuroscience were developed with his backing. The university paid tribute to a former senator who, it said, had helped expand opportunities for students and address healthcare needs across the state.
He is survived by Sharon Rockefeller, their four children and nine grandchildren.
