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On Eve of Election, Obama's Grandmother Dies
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 3, 2008
Modified Nov 3, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 3, 2008
Modified Nov 3, 2008
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Barack Obama's campaign announced that his grandmother, 86-year-old Madelyn Dunham, passed away Sunday night. Recently Obama took time off the campaign trail to visit her one last time. He and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng issued a statement, calling her "the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances.” John McCain offered his condolences to the family, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives." Obama and Soetoro-Ng also thanked people for the flowers and cards sent to Dunham in recent weeks; they added they would hold a small private ceremony for her at a later date.
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barack obama
john mccain
Madelyn Dunham
Maya Soetoro-Ng
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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