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Rep. McGovern announces unexpected death of daughter, Molly
“Molly will always be the soul of our family,” the family of U.S. Rep Jim McGovern said in a statement.
Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern announced Thursday that his daughter, Molly, died “unexpectedly” while visiting a friend in Italy.
In a joint statement with his wife, Lisa, and son, Patrick, the Worcester Democrat said Molly McGovern “faced a rare cancer diagnosis” but had just finished a semester abroad in Australia and was in Italy visiting a friend and his family.
“Molly will always be the soul of our family,” the McGoverns said. “We are so proud of her, and so glad that so many people were touched by her incredible life. We love you, Molly. We miss you already.”
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They said Molly McGovern “radiated pure joy,” full of laughter and warmth and armed with a sharp wit.
“She was unbelievably funny, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years,” the family said. “Molly had a rare gift: She made everyone feel special, because she genuinely believed everyone was special. She treated people with compassion and kindness — always standing up for the underdog, and making fast friends wherever she went.”
They also noted Molly McGovern’s “fierce” love for the Boston Bruins, as well as her family and friends.
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“If you ever met Molly, you carried a piece of her light with you,” the McGoverns added. “She had that kind of effect on people.”
She faced her cancer diagnosis “with relentless courage, optimism, and tenacity — refusing to let her illness slow her down,” according to the family’s statement.
Gov. Maura Healey said she was “heartbroken” for the McGovern family, sending condolences Thursday on behalf of herself and her partner, Joanna Lydgate.
“Molly was a light in her family’s lives and the lives of so many,” Healey said in a statement. “She was a kind, smart and compassionate young woman who touched the lives of many. We are all feeling the sadness of her being taken too soon.”
Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan described Molly McGovern as a “gift to all who knew her,” adding, “She blessed everyone who she met with her joy, sense of adventure and optimism.”
Tributes also poured in from Congressman McGovern’s fellow lawmakers, as well others in the Massachusetts political scene.
“When faced with a life-altering health challenge during her freshman year of college, Molly showed incredible strength and resilience,” Worcester Mayor Joe Petty recalled in a statement. “She confronted it head-on and refused to let it define her or slow her down.”
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Added U.S. Rep. Richard Neal: “Molly was a McGovern through and through — compassionate, intelligent, and loyal to a fault. The world is a poorer place without her.”
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