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Frank Polich / Getty Images
Outgoing Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife Maggie, walk on stage for a swearing-in ceremony for mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel in Grant Park May 16.
Associated Press
CHICAGO -- Maggie Daley, the wife of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and a gracious promoter of the city's cultural and educational programs, has died. She was 68.
Maggie Daley, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, died Thursday night, family spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard told The Associated Press. Daley had been a reserved and dignified presence at her husband's side during his 22 eventful years as mayor.
Heard said Daley was surrounded by her husband and children when she died just after 6 p.m. CDT.
"The mayor and his family would like to thank the people of Chicago for the many kindnesses they've shown Mrs. Daley over the years, and they appreciate your prayers during this time," Heard said.
When she first learned she had breast cancer in June 2002, Daley said she was shocked. "But you pick up and you move on. ... I'm not alone here. There are a lot of people who have experienced this," Daley said in the weeks after the diagnosis.
The Daleys' daughter, Lally, had moved up her wedding from New Year's Eve to Nov. 17 so her mother could fully participate. The former mayor said his wife had a difficult summer, and a longtime mayoral aide said she had suffered setbacks and was not getting around as much as she normally did.
When Richard Daley was elected to his first term as Chicago's mayor in 1989, he thanked his wife in his acceptance speech, calling her "the best campaigner in the family." She was with him at the September 2010 news conference when he announced he wouldn't seek another term. He left office in May 2011.
During his time in office, Richard Daley would routinely tear up when he spoke about his wife. They had met while he was campaigning for the Illinois Senate and were married in 1972. Eventually, their partnership became a steady force for the city during his at-times turbulent two decades at the helm of the nation's third-largest city.
In the years after the cancer was diagnosed, Maggie Daley was in and out of the hospital. She received chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and had a tumor removed from her right breast.
By December 2009, doctors said the cancer had spread and Daley had radiation treatment for a cancerous lesion on a bone of her lower right leg. Doctors advised her to use a wheelchair until she finished therapy.
In March 2010, a titanium rod was inserted into her leg to reduce the risk of fracture after having radiation treatment on the leg.
All the while, she maintained a public life as Chicago's first lady.
She was in Millennium Park in 2006 when the city's "Cloudgate" statue was dedicated, calling it the cornerstone of the park.
"It serves as a gateway to the lakefront and downtown and beautifully captures our signature skyline," she said.
In 2009, she and more than a dozen athletes headlined a departure party before boarding a flight to Copenhagen where the International Olympic Committee was to decide if Chicago would host the 2016 Summer Games. The committee picked Rio de Janeiro.
She was active in Gallery 37, which educates and employs young people in the arts, and she was a champion of the educational program After School Matters. She also had held a paid position as president of Pathways Awareness Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to teach parents about disabilities affecting children.
While her husband could be prickly, particularly with the media, Maggie Daley became a beloved figure. She declined most interview requests, saying she did not want to talk about herself, but she was gracious and smiling with reporters, typically saying only that she was feeling "just fine" when asked about her health. When, for example, her crutches fell to the stage during a rare speech, she simply said, "It's OK, we'll just leave them there," and moved on.
Born Margaret Corbett, she earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Dayton and held honorary degrees from Columbia College in Chicago and the Catholic Theological Union.
She is survived by her husband and three children. Her 33-month-old son, Kevin, died of complications related to spina bifida in 1981.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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My Condolences to the Daley Family. May she rest in Peace.
Such a classy lady.. so sorry to hear of her passing. May she and her family find Peace...
Mrs. Daley was undoubtedly a beautiful woman and a great Mom. That she should die after being RAVAGED by the big "C", cancer is just awful. Her months of treatment probably were some if not the most difficult times of her life. The pain of radiation, the disgusting results of chemotherapy, the hair loss and possibly an operation or two were not easily handled.
And what is more awful than that is the fact that the people who are 'researchers', 'doctors of oncology' and 'managers' of all the organizations claiming to be 'dedicated' to finding a 'cure' for cancer have failed.
They have failed. Since the mid 1970's someone who is looking for money to support their life style has begged and pled and groveled before the gullible America Public. Their goal? To get money from the survivors of cancer victims so they can continue to 'milk' the public.
The American Cancer Society is the leading provider of mis information, false information and their 'executives' live like kings.
They have for years, lived like kings. A TV broadcaster named Tom Snyder, interviewed the Chief Executives of this organization about 1979, maybe 1980. At that time they had free housing. Chauffeured transportation to/from work. Expense accounts which seemed to be open ended. And huge salaries complete with 'bonuses'. These men were so angry that this fool broadcaster named Tom Snyder had done his work and revealed the many 'perks' these executives had awarded themselves that they became silent and if I recall correctly they went silent and then left the set.
I still have the tape of that show and will look at it in few days when I am no longer as angry and riled as I am at this time.
Maybe you will "Google" Tom Snyder and review his cancer interview?
Think about this: Americans have gone to the moon and back, Americans have done so many fantastic things in medicine especially in surgical procedures, electronics and manufacturing YET after 40 years plus and millions of dollars being spent to "FIND THE CURE" there is no cure.
Promoters have 'race for the cure', they have 'drives' and 'fund raisers' and yet these millions of dollars raised have yet to find a 'cure'.
The Federal Government is not working on a 'cure'. There are so many 'institutions' where there is 'cancer research' that it will boggle your mind. Look it up. Then ask this question: IF all of this money and 'research' were condensed to a few institutions and supported in principal by the US Government with reports of progress or failure required how long would it take to find a cure. What if there is no cure?
There are folks begging for money to CURE diabetes. That is such a hornswoggle. Any reputable medical person will tell you there is no CURE for diabetes. There are ways to 'control' the savagery of the disease, but NO CURE ! Another boondoggle played out by an uneducated, uninformed and ignorant yet gullible public.
This rape of our treasure must be stopped.
IN fact there is NO PROGRESS in the treatment of cancer in nearly 40 years. NONE.
Oh yeah, a bunch of apologists for the institutions which suck up the funds on the premise that will find a CURE will jump on this comment and make all sorts of nasty remarks and ridiculous claims but the fact of the matter is this: THERE IS NO CURE even after billions of dollars spent and 40 years of "research".
Maybe you can see the sham that is played out daily.
Need proof? Mrs. Daley died from the ravages of cancer. IF and I say IF there was a 'cure' don't you think Mayor Daley with all of his influence could have been granted the cure for his wife? Case closed.
Don't know what your story is, but you are WRONG about progress in the treatment of cancer. WRONG. I don't think you'll ever "cure" cancer. Anymore than you'll "cure" all disease and ignorance. Cures are not magic. They take a lot of time, money and genius. But there is NO question that we've made progress.
Just in the area of pediatric leukemia, as many as 85% of children today live, when 50 years ago it was virtually a death sentence for a child. My own Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1992. The gave her less than 3 years. They could not operate, performed massive chemo and then put her into a series of chemo trials. She made it 16 years, not 3.
I am sure much of what you say is true. I have no idea what personal bone you have to pick with medical research. But to suggest that in the last 40 years that here has been NO progress in the treatment of various cancers is simply ridiculous.
I live in Chicago, and if there were some magic "cure" for breast cancer, I can assure the former mayor's influence would mean little. It would be the money he and his family STOLE from the citizens of this city and state. Mrs. Daley was part of their decades old scam. But I, personally, would have wished her no ill. May she rest now.
Easy for you to hurl "WRONG" at truth isn't it?
Clearly you are one of those 'bleeding hearts'; one of those 'blood suckers' whose goal is to live off of the cash infusion to a cause so badly managed that 'mismanaged ' is not even close. Or maybe you are a beneficiary of the scam?
Big deal 'I live in Chicago' ? so what ? so do millions of real honest people. You expect 'magic' to cure cancer? Come on you are a 'useful idiot' in the quest for cash from people who are emotionally involved in the deaths of millions of cancer victims.
You have never seen the ravaging of the body by the dark ages treatment offered by the 'leading cancer institutions'. Hair loss, nausea, skin disease and the other effects of the disease. Perhaps you are an advocate of the use of 'leeches' for the treatment of cancer?
Obviously you are one of those eating at the trough owned by the 'beggars' and ‘charlatans’ operating on minds and wallets of those associated with death from cancer. These begging and troubling attempts to relieve an emotional public from their cash have provided NO MEASURABLE results . Except to provide a high level of living for the ‘beggars’.
Ohh yes please identify the PROGRESS you claim has been made in 40 years. I won't hold my breath of course.
PS: Your "Mom" story is so absolutely bogus it is scary.
Whatever your intention, Josh Brogan, this is not the forum for comment/rant.
Have you no shame? No compassion? No sense of decorum?
You, Steve. are no better. Your comment is equally abhorrent.
Wait a minute Jkatze! Josh as well as anyone else has the right to voice their opinion. He is not off topic - he is discussing his beliefs regarding cures for cancer. Just as Steve has a right to his opinion. They are doing nothing wrong as far as I can see. I am not sure who made you commander-in-chief - but your title has now been REMOVED! You really have a lot of nerve!
Your comments will cause people - such as me - to address them and they are OFF TOPIC! So see- I wasted time responding to your comment when I could have been contributing to the other thoughtful and insightful comments on the blog already - one of which IS NOT YOURS!!!
I want to extend my condolences as well. I lost my 54 year old daughter to metastic brain cancer July 29th after a 10 month battle. I empathize with the Daley family. Peace & love to all of you.
You are do kind in your extension of love - I am sorry to hear about your daughter. Cancer is a nasty ugly lurker of the dark! It does not discriminate - my mother also was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and I lost my father in June as well - my mother had a double mastectomy and is still fighting. I have a sad and angry part about all of this - I wonder how many people really understand the devastation it causes unless you are touched by it.
Wow - such terrible loss - the loss of children, mothers, friends, cousins, sisters, brothers, uncles, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles....................and the list goes on and on..................................
I listed "uncles" twice and one should have been "fathers"
Having lived in Chicago from 1977 to 1992, working at Marshall Fields, I waited on Mrs. Margaret Daley, many times during the year's, she was not only vivacious, and beautiful, but unassuming, and so kind to those of us who worked in the Retail Field, at the then Retail Store of Chicago. My Sympathies to the entire Daley Clan, they have lost a truly great figure in their family unit. Rest In Peace Maggie, your long struggle is over.
Maggie Daley was indeed a classy woman who brought a lot to Chicago. She will be missed.
RIP CLASSY LADY !!!
Godspeed, Mrs. Daley, you were a shining light who truly made Chicago your home. It is a far better city for having had your care and contributions.
My condolences to Rich Daley and their children. May God give you comfort and peace.
Oh for crying out loud! I am not sure what "god speed" means? Can you explain it? I am very serious! Also - the whole god and comfort thing is a little bit too late isn't it? If your god existed - why did he not give her comfort and peace while she was here? Really? Why did she go through so much pain and discomfort - as like many others - only to find comfort and peace after he kills her. Right? You guys always say "he called her home". So he called her home by killing her with cancer?
You see how ridiculous that entire god and jesus thing is you guys cling too? You might as well follow the guidance of Charlie Brown - because he is just as real as god and jesus.
Segdirb: My, what a bitter angry person you are.
My Condolences To The Daley Family..
it should of happen to mr daley not her.
he was the one leading the pack ,
I don't know a lot about this couple - but looking at some of the post - it appears they were not as upstanding as people are making them out to be. Even "UpYours" comment below eludes the same. How did he stay in office 22 years? Wow - let the truth be known.
Segdirb, you're an ass.
Being married to the mob surely didnt hurt, to bad they couldnt buy her a few more years.
Mayor Daley and his wife Maggie were responsible for some of the City's greatest cultural amenities. The Museum Campus, Millenium Park, bringing the Joffrey Ballet to Chicago to name but a few. They put the "class" into World Class City.
My sincere condolences to the Daley family. Unfortunately, it is all to easy for some of us to neglect the true impact Maggie had on our home, our families and our history. "Gone but not forgotten" rest in peace Mrs. Daley.