Former Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell Dies At 78

CONNECTICUT — The family of former Gov. M. Jodi Rell has announced she has died following a brief illness at a Florida hospital on Wednesday. She was 78 years old.

Rell was Connecticut's 87th governor, serving from 2004 until 2011. She was only the second female governor in the state's history. Prior to serving as the state's top executive, Rell served as lieutenant governor for 10 years and as a member of the state House of Representatives for 10 years, representing Brookfield and Bethel.

The former governor began her political career in 1985, succeeding retiring Republican State Rep. David Smith (R-107) and serving Brookfield and part of Bethel for five terms in the state legislature.

In 1994, she joined then-Congressman John Rowland (CT-5) on the Republican ticket for governor and went on to serve as lieutenant governor into Rowland’s third term before he stepped down amid a corruption scandal. She succeeded Rowland in July 2004 and won reelection in 2006, garnering nearly 710,000 votes, the highest total for any gubernatorial candidate in Connecticut history.

Born in Virginia on June 16, 1946, Rell attended Old Dominion University and Western Connecticut State University. She received honorary doctor of law degrees from the University of Hartford in 2001 and the University of New Haven in 2004.

Rell made unprecedented investments in innovative early childhood programs, and also signed into law two balanced and on-time state budgets that honored the state’s spending cap, provided for the state’s “Rainy Day” budget reserve fund to be filled, and invested in other critical priorities, according to her biography with the National Governors' Association.

Gov. Ned Lamont has ordered flags in the state to be lowered, effective immediately, and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined.

In a statement, Lamont said Rell "represented the very best of Connecticut values, expanding healthcare and childcare, and making Connecticut one of the first states in the country to recognize same-sex unions.

"The Jodi Rell that the people of Connecticut saw in public was the Jodi Rell that she was in real life – calm, rational, caring, approachable, and devoted to her family and to her state. During this time that I’ve had the honor of serving as governor, she has become a very good friend."

The Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus issued the following statement on Rell's passing:

"Jodi Rell loved Connecticut, she loved public service, and she served our state with dignity and grace. As our 87th Governor, she had an incredible connection with Connecticut residents that helped her lead us through some very difficult days. She was the genuine article. She emphasized transparency in government. She was a leader and a role model for all our citizens."

Dannel Patrick Malloy, a Democrat and the state's 88th governor, said his predecessor "steadied the ship" after Rowland's resignation, noting she "returned a sense of decency and honesty to state government at a time when both were sorely needed. Gov. Rell loved Connecticut, and was a dedicated, honest and kind public servant."

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said Connecticut residents had "lost a dear friend and wonderful human being," but "can be heartened by the warm memories we shared of Jodi Rell, who served her beloved state and hometown of Brookfield with dignity, class and honor."

Democratic State Sen. Ceci Maher, who serves District 26, said "Rell used a steady hand and a kind, respected approach to keep Connecticut on the right track. She set a strong example for leaders and women in our state."

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, who served with Rell when he first joined the legislature, called the former governor "a model of grace and stability" in a statement released Thursday morning:

"The Governor was incredibly kind and gracious to me whenever I had the chance to engage with her. Her brand of thoughtful politics and leadership is sorely missed, and my hope is that elected leaders here and across the country will do better to follow her lead and example."