Rep. Mark Takai (HI-D) Passes Away From Pancreatic Cancer

7월 21일(현지 시간)하와이 1구역 연방 하원의원 마크 타카이(7/1/1967-7/20/2016, 49세)가 췌장암과 싸우다 결국 암으로 세상을 떠났다고 그의 오피스는 발표했다. 이에 오바마 대통령도 타카이 의원을 잃음에 대해 애도와 함께 가족을 위로하는 메시지를 보냈다.

 “Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Representative Mark Takai today. Mark was always a fighter. It’s the spirit he brought to more than two decades of public service on behalf of the people of Hawaii. He stood up for America’s most vulnerable. He championed our troops and veterans, and proudly wore our nation’s uniform. And his relentless push for cancer research inspired countless Americans fighting the same battle as him. Simply put, our country is better off because of Mark’s contributions. He leaves a legacy of courage, of service, and of hope. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s wife, Sami, their two children, and his many friends and family.”(President Obama’s Condolence from White House)

힐러리 민주당 대통령 출마자도 마크 타카이 의원의 사망을 애도하는 메시지를 보냈다.

“Mark was everything a public servant should be. He spent his entire life in service of his state and his country — from the Hawaii Army National Guard to the Hawaii State House to the House of Representatives — fighting to make sure veterans and their families are supported, supporting ambitious steps to protect his state and our planet from the perils of climate change, and championing the rights of Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities. I am grateful to Mark for his friendship and deeply honored to have earned his support. “(Excerpt from  the  staradvertiser.com)

민주당전국의회(Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz) 도 나라를 위해 헌신한 타카이 의원의 죽음을 애도했다. “We are heartbroken by the loss of Representative Takai. As a fourth generation Hawaiian, he dedicated his life to serving our country. He was a long-term member of the Hawaii National Guard, deploying to the Middle East in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and served two decades in the Hawaii House of Representatives before his election to Congress in 2014. He was a fierce advocate for his own immigrant heritage, fighting throughout his career to expand opportunities for all Americans regardless of background. ”

민주당 아시안 태평양계 의회 (Chair Bel Leong Hong)도 애도와 위로를 보냈다.

“We are  grateful for his passion and his work. He brought the true Aloha spirit to Congress, and to everything he was associated with. We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.”(Excerpt from DNC Press)

Judy Chu (CA-D, Chair of CAPAC) called Takai a “true patriot, public servant, and friend.” 라고 말하며, 벌써 타카이 의원을 생각하며 그리워한다고 말했다.

타카이 의원은  4대째 하와이에서 뿌리를 내리고 살고 있는 일본계 하와이언으로 하와이에서 태어나서 1994년 부터 2014년까지 하와이주 하원의원으로 봉직을 했으며, 2015부터 현재까지 연방 하원의원으로 일하고 있었다. 그는 지난 5월 19일 자신은 췌장암으로 다음 임기엔 출마하지 않겠다고 선언한 뒤, 거의 2개월만에 암과 싸우다 사망했다. 가족으로는 그의 아내 Sami Takai 와 2명의 자녀가 있다.

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