Northern Virginia representative Gerry Connolly died following a battle with esophageal cancer at age 75, after 16 years representing our district. He previously served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisor, and has been a leader in our region for decades. He became the US 

He previously planned to retire from Congress after his final term, which was cut short by his death. He was serving as the ranking member of the oversight committee before his death, the highest ranked Democrat on the committee. He had stepped down after a harsh round of cancer treatments. 

During his career, he helped to develop the Silver Line connecting the DC Metro system to Tysons corner, completed in 2014. His advocacy for federal funds to go to the project pushed it over the line to become possible, and he called it one of his greatest achievements. 

He was an adamant defender of the Post Office and advocate for its continued health, accusing Donald Trump and his Postmaster appointee in his first term for killing the service with their budget cuts. 

He also pushed to reform the federal IT systems, saving the government billions in refining the bureaucratic system. He co-sponsored a bill giving federal workers a telework option in 2010, beginning a system which would be stronger to face the difficulties of the COVID pandemic. 

He was survived by his wife and daughter, and his funeral was held in Heritage Fellowship Church, in Reston. He leaves behind an accomplished legacy that had empowered Fairfax County and gave it more resources to become successful.