Speaker Nancy Pelosi devastated by her brother’s sudden death on Sunday morning
Thomas D’Alesandro III, the brother of Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, passed away from complications of a stroke at the age of 90 this morning at his home in Baltimore, the city where he was once mayor, according to The Baltimore Sun.
Speaker Pelosi — who is facing one of the most challenging times of her political career as she oversees the Democratic impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump — issued the following statement in response to the news of the death of her sibling:
“My husband Paul and our entire family are devastated by the loss of our patriarch, my beloved brother, Thomas D’Alesandro III.”
“Tommy was the finest public servant I have ever known. His life and leadership were a tribute to the Catholic values with which we were raised: faith, family, patriotism. He profoundly believed, as did our parents, that public service was a noble calling and that we all had a responsibility to help others.”
“Tommy dedicated his life to our city. A champion of civil rights, he worked tirelessly for all who called Baltimore home. Tommy was a leader of dignity, compassion and extraordinary courage, whose presence radiated hope upon our city during times of struggle and conflict.”
“All his life, Tommy worked on the side of the angels. Now, he is with them. With his commitment to his family and public service, his life has truly blessed America.”
“All who were blessed to know and to love Tommy mourn with his wife Margaret, his children Thomas, Dominic, Nicholas, Patricia and Gregory, and his grandchildren whom he adored, and are praying for them at this sad time.”
Mr. D’Alesandro — known as “Young Tommy” to distinguish him from his father Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., another former Baltimore mayor who was referred to as “Big Tommy” — continued the Maryland political dynasty that his family became. He was a noted advocate of civil rights for all and appointed Baltimore’s first African American heads of the city’s schools and the fire department.
At press time, it was uncertain how the death of her brother would affect Speaker Pelosi’s schedule in the week ahead. Pelosi was returning today from a surprise trip to Jordan with a bipartisan congressional delegation to discuss the crisis in Syria between the Turks and the Kurds with Jordanian King Abdullah II and senior Jordanian officials.
The Democrats’ impeachment inquiry is expected to continue unimpeded despite the deaths of both Speaker Pelosi’s elder brother and the passing of House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings earlier this week.
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Original reporting by Jean Marbella and Luke Broadwater at The Baltimore Sun.
