President Obama said on Tuesday that former White House aide Brandon Lepow died Monday night, and the President released a statement calling his former staffer one of the most “unfailingly kind and gracious people” he knew. Lepow was 32.
Lepow received treatment for leukemia in a hospital in his hometown of Houston, where dozens of administration officials visited him, as reported in August by the LA Times.
He joined Obama’s 2008 campaign and later served as a White House regional communications director in 2012. He left the White House for a job at Facebook, but continued to work on some of the President’s trips, according to the LA Times.
Here’s President Obama’s full statement:
Seven years ago, like a lot of young people, Brandon Lepow got into politics because he believed he could change his country for the better. And in his time on the campaign trail and in the White House, both as a traveling aide and as a spokesman, he was tireless in that effort – hardworking, cheerful, one of the most unfailingly kind and gracious people I’ve had the honor to know. He was someone that any American could be proud to have working on their behalf.
Last night, we lost Brandon after a long battle with leukemia. It’s a testament to his dedication to others that, over the past few months, more than fifty of his White House colleagues traveled to spend time with him and support his family as he underwent treatment in Texas. We all have heavy hearts today – and all of us, Michelle and I included, share our condolences and all our support with Brandon’s family, his legion of friends, and his wonderful and courageous wife, Theresa. Theirs is one of the great love stories. They, in many ways, kept the rest of us going. And Theresa will always be a part of our family.
To know Brandon Lepow was to know that he didn’t need to get into politics to change the world, after all. He made his thirty-two years count. And those of us who knew him are better for it.
Sad news Mr President. That was a very gracious comment for that young man.
Well done sir.
Sad. Seems to me I remember getting a few, OK, perhaps waaay too many emails from that guy during the Presidential campaign. He was a valuable and close communications person to the President, and he was fortunate to have Lepow by his side getting his message out. I’m sure he’ll be missed by all his family, friends and loved ones. Condolences.
Very nice comment from the President.
(Much better than JEB! “Stuff Happens.”)
A beautiful statement by the president about what sounds like a hardworking dedicated person. Wow. Only 32 years old. I hope he had the time of his life during his short years on this earth and that he knows he was instrumental in helping make history.
Condolences to his family. RIP, Brandon.
Not that it really matters but I wonder if Obama wort that or if someone wrote it for him. Either way a nice statement.