Courtney Statement on the Passing of Former First Lady of Connecticut Natalie "Nikki" O'Neill

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement on the passing of former First Lady of Connecticut Natalie "Nikki" S. (Damon) O'Neill: 

“The sad news this week that one of Connecticut’s leading lights, Nikki O’Neill, passed away will reverberate from every corner of the State of Connecticut,” Courtney said. “She was truly the life partner of former Governor William O’Neill and touched the lives of thousands and thousands of our state’s residents. She was a proud citizen of the Town of East Hampton, where Governor O’Neill started his political career as a decorated Korean War veteran and restaurant owner. After serving in the General Assembly and as Lieutenant Governor under Ella Grasso, he presided over the state in a historic time when he uplifted the salaries of public school teachers and established one of the first prescription drug programs for seniors in the 1980s. After stepping down, he and Nikki returned to East Hampton and lived a modest, down-to-earth lifestyle that every townsperson appreciated and was proud of. Their example and Nikki’s gregarious, sharp wit will be sorely missed but never forgotten.”

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