SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY DIES AT 77

I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE GROWING UP IN THE AMAZING CITY OF BOSTON, LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD THROUGH ITS EYES AND HEART, AS A CHILD I WOULDN'T EXCEPT THAT THERE WERE OTHER CITIES OUT THERE, MY ENTIRE WORLD WAS BOSTON. AND, BECAUSE OF MY WONDERFULLY FAMOUS (IF NOT ODD) FAMILY I CAME INTO CONTACT WITH MANY PERSONALITIES, AND THAT IS WHY THE FOLLOWING NEWS IS SO DISHEARTENING. SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY HAS PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME IN HISTORIC HYANNIS PORT AFTER A LENGTHY BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER, ACCORDING TO A KENNEDY FAMILY STATEMENT.

STATEMENT FROM THE KENNEDY FAMILY:
"EDWARD M. KENNEDY -- THE HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, BROTHER AND UNCLE WE LOVED SO DEEPLY -- DIED LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AT HOME IN HYANNIS PORT. WE'VE LOST THE IRREPLACEABLE CENTER OF OUR FAMILY AND THE JOYOUS LIGHT IN OUR LIVES, BUT THE INSPIRATION OF HIS FAITH, OPTIMISM, AND PERSEVERANCE WILL LIVE ON IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER. WE THANK EVERYONE WHO GAVE HIM CARE AND SUPPORT OVER THE LAST YEAR, ND EVERYONE WHO STOOD WITH HIM FOR SO MANY YEARS IN HIS TIRELESS MARCH FOR PROGRESS TOWARD JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY AND DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO SERVING IT. HE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT OUR BEST DAYS WERE STILL AHEAD, BUT IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANY OF THEM WITHOUT HIM."