Former Rep. Pat Schroeder Dies at 82

WASHINGTON—Former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder has died. She was 82.

Andrea Camp, Schroeder’s ex-press secretary, claimed that Schroeder suffered from a stroke and died Monday night in Celebration (Florida), where she had lived in recent years.

Schroeder was first elected to Congress in Colorado in 1972. She became one of the most influential Democrats in Colorado, winning easy reelection eleven times from her safe Denver district. Despite her age, she was not elected to head any committee.

Schroeder was instrumental in forming several Democratic majorities, before deciding that 1997 was the right time to go.

Schroeder, who was a Coloradan herself, tried to run for the presidency in 1987. She organized a fundraising drive following Gary Hart’s withdrawal. Three months later, she announced that she would not be running and stated her intention to run. “tears signify compassion, not weakness.” She stated that she didn’t feel the need to do it and that fundraising was too demeaning.

Schroeder was a pilot and earned her way to Harvard Law School through her own flying company. Schroeder left Congress to become a professor at Princeton University, but she stated that politics was her passion and would continue working for the candidates she supported.

A graduate-level course she taught was called “The Graduate Course in English”. “The Politics of Poverty.” She also led the Association of American Publishers.

After moving to Florida, Schroeder worked in politics, visiting doors and speaking to groups, as well as mentoring candidates. She was active politically for issues and candidates throughout the country and ran for Hillary Clinton 2016. She also served on the board for the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Schroeder was born July 30, 1940 in Portland, Oregon. Before earning her law degree at the University of Minnesota, she graduated from there. She worked as a field lawyer for the National Labor Relations Board from 1964 to 1966.

James W. Schroeder is her husband. She married him in 1962. Their two children, Scott (and Jamie) and Mike Scott (her brother), are also survivors, along with four grandchildren.