PHILADELPHIA (JTA) — Mark Weiner, a prominent Rhode Island Democratic fundraiser and close friend of the Clintons, died on the day he hoped to watch Hillary Clinton secure the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
Weiner, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party, died Tuesday at 62, The Associated Press reported. He was suffering from leukemia.
Weiner, who was Jewish, manufactured merchandise for the Democratic National Committee.
He had been elected a delegate to the convention in Philadelphia and hoped to see Clinton nominated. But the ailing Weiner could not attend and was replaced by his wife, Susan.
Weiner had met Hillary Clinton in 1976 while volunteering for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign.
Bill Clinton, the former president, broke away from his prepared speech on Tuesday at the convention to remember Weiner, saying that he and his wife had cried in the morning when they heard the news of his passing. Bill Clinton had traveled to Newport, Rhode Island, two weeks ago to spend five hours with Weiner, WPRI reported.
Along with his wife, Weiner is survived by four children.
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