Former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, 90, dies

[Dennis Donovan]

Source: RI Providence Journal

04:01 PM EST on Thursday, January 1, 2009

By John E. Mulligan

Journal Washington Bureau

Claiborne deBorda Pell, the quirky Newport blueblood who held the affections of blue-collar Rhode Island and championed better education of the poor during a 36-year Senate career, died shortly after midnight today at his home in Newport. He was 90 years old.

Democrat Pell, who had suffered from Parkinson’s disease since before his retirement from the Senate, died peacefully in the presence of his wife, Nuala O’Donnell Pell, and family members, according to a statement released by the family.

Pell, who served as the U.S. senator from Rhode Island from 1961 to 1997, was perhaps best known nationally for the college grant program that bears his name.

He focused heavily on education, the arts and humanities, and foreign affairs during his 36 years in the Senate. During the latter part of his Senate career, he served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

As his family noted in the statement, the courtly Pell often expressed the definition of his job in seven words: "Translate ideas into actions and help people."


Read more: http://www.projo.com/news/content/pell01x_01-01-09_1KCQ...

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Cross gently, Senator Pell...

[geiger]

1. Well, thanks for the post. The Pell grants certainly helped me. Thank you.

[davefromqueens]

18. RIP

He did good, real good.

My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

[UrbScotty]

2. Thank you, Senator Pell.

Godspeed.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. K&R. Very sad, but he did live a long life and did so much good...

He was the longest serving U.S. Senator in Rhode Island history and was honored by Brown University in 2006...

Godspeed, Senator Pell.

[catzies]

4. Condolences to the family from one of his many grateful grant recipients

Thank you Sen. Pell for making a difference in my life and the lives of countless others.

[Sultana]

5. R.I.P.

Thanks for the college Pell grants, safe journey Senator.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. K&R if you got a Pell grant

I did - and that was back when it actually covered a substantial portion of my expenses.

[karynnj]

7. RIP -

One unimportant thing - Pell was the Senator who complimented John Kerry when he testified befor the SFRC and then added that he hoped someday that Kerry would be a member of (the Senate). When Kerry was elected, Pell was the Chair of the SRFC, which was the committee Kerry most wanted to be seated on. Kerry, of course, is the incoming chair of that committee now.

[globalvillage]

11. Sen. Kerry's statement

Incoming Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) released the following statement today following the news of the passing of his colleague, mentor, and esteemed former committee chairman, Senator Claiborne Pell:


"Public service was stamped in Claiborne Pell's DNA. He was a quiet giant and a gentleman to the core, a dignified man who always did what he thought was right. Claiborne Pell will be recorded in history as a leader whose moral compass pointed him to do great things. This was a man born to great privilege whose domestic legacy will always be the Pell Grants which put college within reach for millions who would never have had that chance without his vision. In foreign policy, he was every bit as principled, pushing to end the war in Vietnam and leading the Foreign Relations Committee to support America's rightful place in the world community. The Pell family is in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time."

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/entry/kerry_statement_on_...

[karynnj]

12. Really nice statement

and the qualities he ascribes to Senator Pell are ones that all Senators should have - and many don't come close.

[AllentownJake]

8. Godspeed

They don't make Senators like they used to.

[Ken Burch]

9. A quiet man who did a lot of good.

Thanks, Senator Pell.

[sallyseven]

10. He was an honorable man.

R.I. Has had many Senators and congress people that served their state so well. Pell, Pastore, Green, Fogerty, Whitehouse and Jack Reed to name a few. That is just off the top of my head but i remember them well.

[ladywnch]

13. K&R for the Pell grants .....god speed, Sir.

[sueh]

14. R.I.P. Senator Pell. Thank you for your service.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. R.I.P. from a beneficiary while in college under Carter

but then a year later, suffered with Raygun's gutting of what was then called the "BEOG", afterwhich the whole program stagnated for the next 12 years.

Alas... If only there were only more people like Senator Pell... A true

[mascarax]

16. Another grateful Pell grant recipient

I would have had to transfer to a less expensive school without it. Thank you, Sen. Pell.

[Fire1]

17. I am forever grateful, Sen. Pell. Thank you and God speed.

[Wetzelbill]

19. Thank you sir, for helping me get an education

RIP.

[VAliberal]

20. Pell Grant recipient

godspeed Sen. Pell.

[Sabriel]

21. Thank you!

I and many of my students thank you, Senator. It wouldn't've been possible without a Pell grant.

[Politicub]

22. RIP Senator Pell and thank you

I'm from a poor family, and was one of the millions that was able to go to college because of Pell Grants. What an awesome person he was to champion the less fortunate. We need more folks like him in congress.

[pleah]

23. K&R Thank you, Mr. Pell. Rest in peace.

[bdamomma]

24. He was a good man

RIP Senator Pell.

[Chemical Bill]

25. I went to school on a Pell Grant.

In the 1970s I heard a quote out of DC complaining that Pell was "smoking seaweed". I always liked that.

Bill