Fraters Mourn the Death of a CHIA Champion and Interfraternal Friend

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Fraters and Interfraternal friends are saddened by the sudden death of Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, one of the great champions of today's Greek movement. The congresswoman suffered a brain aneurysm Tuesday evening and died Wednesday at Huron Hospital in East Cleveland. A brain aneurysm is a bulge in an artery in the brain. It can leak or rupture, causing bleeding in the brain.

At the NIC Annual Meeting in 2007, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones received the NIC Silver Medal. One of the Conference's highest honors, the medal recognizes significant leadership for causes that advance the highest ideals of fraternalism. Her dedication to the Congressional Fraternal Caucus and her co-sponsorship and ongoing leadership behind the College Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA) earned that recognition and praise. She continued to support CHIA at this year's Annual Meeting where she was the vocal leader of the Congressional Reception. The Congresswoman has also earned the NIC's Award of Distinction.

A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and the first African-American woman elected to the US House of Representatives from the state of Ohio, Mrs. Tubbs Jones served the residents of the 11th district of Ohio. In the House, she chaired the ethics committee, and she is the first black woman to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, one that is seen as the most powerful in all of Congress. Elected in 1998, she was supposed to be a superdelegate at next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Tubbs Jones quickly rose to prominence in Washington after being elected in 1998. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2000 and was chair of the platform committee at the 2004 convention. In addition, she co-chaired the unsuccessful campaign of Sen. John F. Kerry, also in 2004.

Tubbs Jones is survived by her son, Mervyn, and two sisters.

The Greek community is indebted to Congresswoman Tubbs Jones for her leadership and for her many years of active involvement.