As many of you have already heard, Rep. Gerry Connolly passed away after his struggle with cancer. Whether it’s through his time on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, serving in the House of Representatives, or the many other leadership positions he held throughout the years, there’s absolutely no doubt that Gerry served his community well and was a force for good. But simply seeing all of the tributes following in throughout the day really highlights the impact he had on so many people.

I was honored to attend his funeral yesterday as the Northern Virginia community came together to say their goodbyes. While I was there with a very dear friend who’s also involved in the community and we talked about how so many people had a story about Gerry impacting their lives, the truth behind that sentiment became even clearer the more folks I spoke with about his passing.

One of the most consistent themes I’ve seen expressed since his passing is that while we all have stories of Gerry’s amazing professional accomplishments,the most profound memories we have of him involve his amazing ability to take a personal interest in ensuring those around him had an opportunity to thrive. 

James Walkinshaw, who started working for Gerry in his early twenties, for instance, spoke about how “Gerry Connolly was a mentor, a friend, and one of the most formative figures in my life.” He went on to say “because of him, I am a better husband, father, and public servant” and that he “will carry his wisdom — and his fierce love of this community — with [him] for the rest of [his] life.”

I highlight this because it represents the spirit behind what so many people have expressed about Gerry. He was clearly passionate about seeing the next generation grow and was willing to take the time to encourage so many people as to pursue some form of public service. And starting with when I first met him as a 20 year old history major at George Mason University, I was one of those people whose life was greatly influenced by guidance from Gerry.

Even though it would have been very easy for Gerry to basically brush me off a young kid who didn’t have a terrible amount of influence, he frequently took the time to ask me about what issues I was working on and what motivated me to get involved in the world of advocacy. Since I was also writing a political blog that concentrated on Northern Virginia when I was in my early twenties, he would often have in depth policy discussions with me and would often give me time to interview him after key votes.

While this might not seem like a huge deal, it meant a lot that he would often step away from an interview on MSNBC and then hop on a call with me … a blogger who had a few hundred readers a day. These discussions also helped me frame how I approached my issue based work and provided some perspective on how elected officials process all the information they receive before finally voting on the measures. And more than 20 years after I first met Gerry, these insights still influence the advocacy work I do.

At Gerry’s funeral, there were countless people who I first met around the time I first met him and they all have stories like mine. He was simply that type of mine and it’s that spirit that makes me confident his legacy will continue on for years to come.

Rest in peace, Gerry. We’ll miss you.