jazztalk.net

Excerpts:

Marion Barry, the iconic four-term former mayor and current D.C. Council member and the best-known local political figure in modern Washington history, died early Sunday, a few hours after ending a brief stay at Howard University Hospital. He was 78.

His death was announced by his family in a statement released through a spokeswoman for Barry [LaToya Foster].

According to the statement, he died at the United Medical Center in Southeast Washington, after having been released from Howard University Hospital Saturday. Natalie Williams, a United Medical Center spokeswoman, said Barry arrived at the hospital [UMC] around 12:30 a.m. and died at 1:46 a.m.

She declined to discuss his symptoms presented or the treatment rendered. No cause was given in the family statement, but he had suffered from many health problems over the years.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray said in a statement that he would work with Barry's family and the D.C. Council to plan ceremonies worthy of a "true statesman of the District of Columbia."

In pre-dawn statements, both Gray and mayor-elect Muriel Bowser expressed sadness at Barry's passing. Bowser was at the hospital early Sunday and gave remarks at an impromptu news conference in the hospital auditorium where more than a dozen Barry aides and supporters gathered, some of them sobbing.

"We are saddened and shocked and we will miss Mayor Marion Barry," she said. "He has been an inspiration to so many people and a fighter for people and a champion for the people of Ward 8. . . . He has left lessons about how to help people in the city that will live on for years and years to come." . . .

Barry collapsed while walking into his home, Foster said. The driver called for paramedics, who took him to United Medical Center. . . .

Two other hospital officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the matter, said Barry arrived in cardiac arrest and could not be revived before expiring. . . .

Barry had been set to spend yet another week where most of his years in Washington had been spent — in the public eye.

An interview between Barry and Oprah Winfrey was set to air Sunday at 9 p.m. He was to be featured on a episode of "Where Are They Now?" alongside Family Ties actress Meredith Baxter and ex-MTV veejay "Downtown" Julie Brown.

Also, Barry's annual Ward 8 turkey giveaway was set to take place Tuesday at Union Temple Baptist Church in Anacostia.

A viewing party for the Oprah interview and the turkey giveaway will go on, Foster said.


The complete article, which is mostly about Barry's death and illnesses, is here. And a Washington Post obituary that recounts the ups and downs of Barry's life and political career is here. (The "downs" didn't end with his infamous crack cocaine bust.)

I can say one good thing about Marion Barry: during his early years as mayor, he was a strong supporter of the arts in DC.

I have found out that I've been very naïve about the relationship between Barry and many of the people in DC. I guess mostly I was aware of him through the press during his "scandalous" times and all the very negative publicity. He certainly was in and out of "trouble" for many years. Learning now about all his fans and the positive things he accomplished.