Barack Obama paid tribute to his grandmother as one of America's “;quiet heroes”; when he announced her death from the campaign trail yesterday.

Madelyn Dunham Passes Away

 

Just a day befroe the election Barack Obama's Grandmother has died of cancer.

 

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”;She's gone home,”; he said, with tears in his eyes, as thousands of rowdy supporters at University of North Carolina-Charlotte fell silent.

Madelyn Payne Dunham “;was 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. She ... left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring,”; said Obama and sister Maya Soetoro-Ng in a statement about Dunham's death after a long battle with cancer.

Soetoro-Ng, who was with Dunham when she died late Sunday in her Makiki apartment, said her grandmother “;loved the people of Hawaii,”; where she had lived since 1959. She thanked Dunham's friends and extended family for the cards, letters, flowers and gifts that poured in after the severity of Dunham's illness became evident when Obama left the campaign trail to visit her Oct. 23.

The tributes and condolences flowed yesterday from political leaders and ordinary citizens who were touched by stories about the unassuming woman who lived to see the grandson she raised become a presidential candidate and who achieved her own career success as one of the first women vice presidents of Bank of Hawaii.

“;I feel crushed that she didn't get to watch the returns with the rest of us,”; said Tom Boyle, Obama's Punahou School classmate. “;Her hard work and diligence allowed others in the family to dream and dream of better days. I think when people hear about her, in the midst of all the misinformation being said about Barack, some people may realize that he is an example of the American dream and Madelyn Dunham is the one who taught him.”;

Boyle, a filmmaker, posted a four-minute video about his classmate on YouTube yesterday, renamed “;Madelyn Dunham and Barack Obama, the American Dream”; as a memorial to her.

“;Of course, everyone, including her, would have liked to have seen her be able to make it through Election Day,”; said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who was a friend of Obama's father and mother at the East-West Center. “;But she always faced everything realistically. The kind of woman she was, you deal with things as they come. She wanted him on the campaign trail.”;

Abercrombie said Dunham voted early by mailed ballot.

He said it was Dunham's wish that there be no elaborate service. A small, private service will be held. The family requested that instead of flowers, people may make a donation to “;any worthy organization in search of a cure for cancer.”;

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said: “;It is unfortunate that she has left us before she could share in what I believe will be one of Sen. Obama's greatest achievements, his election as president of the United States.”;

Mayor Mufi Hannemann echoed those sentiments in a release, saying: “;It's sad beyond words that she won't be here to celebrate her grandson's finest hour, or to see how the child she helped raise has galvanized a nation with his message of hope and change.”;

Judy Okawa yesterday dropped off a bouquet of flowers at the Makiki apartment building where Dunham lived. “;You know she's watching over you,”; she wrote in a card to the family.

“;We were hoping she could hold out for the election,”; said Okawa, who did not know Dunham but feels linked to the family because she lives in Washington, D.C. She was here with her husband visiting his mother, who lives in Makiki.

Penelope Van Tuyl, 27, left an orchid lei in the apartment building entrance.

“;Mahalo Tutu,”; she wrote in a condolence card. “;Thank you for raising such a wonderful young man.”; Van Tuyl worked as an Obama campaign precinct worker in San Francisco before moving to Hawaii in September to attend the East-West Center.

Calls of condolence were received at the Democratic Party and Obama campaign headquarters.

“;Sen. Obama has spoken many times about his grandmother's love, support, sacrifice and hard work, which helped to shape his values and laid the foundation for the leader he is today,”; said U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in a statement.

“;Like so many loving grandparents in our nation who shape the lives of our youth, Mrs. Dunham played a critical role in raising and influencing Barack Obama,”; said Gov. Linda Lingle and Lt. Gov. James “;Duke”; Aiona in a statement. “;We extend our heartfelt condolences to the senator and his family.”;

State House Speaker Calvin Say said: “;While this is a sad day for the Obama ohana, may it serve to light the way for a victory tomorrow and real change for the future of our country.”;