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Tribute to Patsy Mink

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Condolences for Patsy Mink

My sincere condolences to the family of the Honorable Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink.

Teresa Portis

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Patsy Mink was a Legend in the Territories

As a long time former congressional staffer working for Guam and other U.S. insular areas, I have nothing but the highest respect for the late Rep. Mink. She was a true and ardent friend of the islands who did her best to provide residents of these islands with the same benefits given their fellow Americans in Hawai'i.

My fondest memory of Mrs. Mink came in the 1960s when I was an college student operating an elevator in the Longworth House Office building at night. Fresh off a plane from Hawai'i, Mrs. Mink stepped into the elevator wearing a floral lei, something we statesiders hear about but seldom see. I remarked how beautiful it was and casually mentioned my fiance would love one someday. Mrs. Mink took it off and said to give it her as a gift from the people of Hawai'i. A small gesture on her part, but one that we shall never forget and so typical of her generosity of spirit. May she rest in peace. All of us have lost a true friend and a remarkable human being with her passing.

Roger Stillwell
North Potomac, Md.

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Our Deep Sympathy

To the Mink family and relatives,

We've gotten the sad news of Patsy's death in Kyushu, Japan. Our sincere condolences goes to Patsy's family and relatives.

With deepest sympathy,
Hiroshi (Jack) and Kyoko (Ruby) Negishi

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Condolences from Las Vegas

We are so sad to hear the passing of Mrs. Mink. We are so proud of her for being the first Asian to go to Congress. She influenced a lot of women for trying to be the best we can.

We want to give our condolences to her family. May she rest in peace and thank you.

Living in Las Vegas but originally from Honolulu. Aloha,
The Horiuchis

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Tribute to Patsy Mink

During the summer of 1992, I had the honor of serving as an intern for Mrs. Mink in Washington, D.C. There are a couple of qualities about her that stand out in my mind.

Mrs. Mink was tough and resilient, and a trailblazer in many areas. She graduated from the University of Chicago Law School at a time when the school had only a few female law students. When she returned to Hawai'i, she was one of only a handful of female attorneys practicing in Honolulu.

Many of the firms were opposed to hiring a female attorney, so Mrs. Mink started her own practice. She succeeded in law and then in politics, becoming a congresswoman in 1964. Following an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1976, she opted to continue her life in politics rather than fold up her tent. After a 14-year absence, she returned to the House in 1990 and continued legislating as if she had never left.

Mrs. Mink cared deeply about Hawai'i and its people. She and her staff responded to every phone call and letter from her constituents. She personally greeted almost every visitor from Hawai'i who stopped by her D.C. office and took many of them to breakfast or lunch. Although she spent many years in D.C., she always had Hawai'i's best interests at heart.

Mrs. Mink was a passionate advocate and an eloquent speaker. She spoke with conviction and purpose. During my internship, she gave several speeches from the House Floor. Her staff would always drop whatever they were doing to watch their boss on C-Span (much in the same way that the staff does on "The West Wing"). When she completed her speech, her staff always shared the same reaction--we were proud to work for Patsy Mink.

Hawai'i has lost one of its most inspiring and capable leaders. My deepest condolences go to her husband John and daughter Wendy.

Brent Yamashita