Jay Rockefeller, former West Virginia governor and US senator who was part of a dynasty, dies

The Boston Globe · JOHN RABY · 2026-11-06 14:41 UTC

Mr. Rockefeller came from one of the nation’s richest families to spend a half century in public service in one of the poorest states.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Jay Rockefeller, the last member of his family’s political dynasty — and the only Democrat — who served as West Virginia’s governor and later a longtime U.S. senator, has died. He was 89.

Rockefeller died Thursday night at his home in Washington, said Mary Stewart, vice president for external affairs at WETA, the public broadcasting station where Rockefeller’s wife, Sharon, serves as president and CEO.

Rockefeller came from one of the nation’s richest families to spend a half century in public service in one of the poorest states. He arrived in 1964 as a worker in an anti-poverty program, was elected governor a dozen years later and served two terms, then spent 30 years as a U.S. senator.

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