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Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 03:17 PM Dec 2014

A diner with Democratic history...

Recently, I ate at one of my hometown (Auburn, NY) diners (technically, a 1950's O'Mahony-built diner) called Hunter's Dinerant. And, I took this picture:



The diner was founded in the early 1950's by Bob Hunter. His daughter, Neilia, married a young SU grad student in 1965 who would ultimately become a Senator and then Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden.

In 1972, Neilia and their small children were returning home from Christmas shopping when their car was hit by a tractor trailer. Neilia and their 18 month old daughter, Naomi (Amy), were killed; their two sons, Joseph (Beau) and Robert (Hunter) were seriously injured. All of this happened just after Joe was elected to the US Senate for the first time (the 42nd anniversary of the tragedy will be this Friday).

Here's a repost of a contemporary article describing the tragedy:

http://lookinginatiowa.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/1972-article-about-fatal-crash-which-took-life-of-bidens-wife-daughter/

Senator-Elect’s Wife Dies in Auto Accident

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) – The pretty blonde wife of Joseph R. Biden was at his side through his campaign. They rejoiced in victory last month when he became the youngest man to be elected to the U.S. senate in this century.

Biden, an intensely family oriented man, had said earlier that he wanted his wife Neilia to get a doctorate and teach college when their children were older. In the meantime, he said, he wanted her “to mold my children.”

End in Tragedy

Biden’s plans for his family ended in tragedy Monday when a tractor-trailer truck slammed into the family station wagon near Hockessiri.

Mrs. Biden and the couple’s 18-month-old daughter Amy were killed and the Bidens’ two young sons were injured. Joseph, 4, sustained leg injuries; Robert, 3, suffered head injuries.
</snip>


Neilia is my second-cousin-by-marriage, so I've been familiar with the tragedy most of my life.

Her father's diner is still going strong. And, if you go there, try the Gravy Fries!
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A diner with Democratic history... (Original Post) Cooley Hurd Dec 2014 OP
A tragedy for Joe Biden who has continued to work to enhance the lives of others. Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #1
Terrific photo and a fascinating story! Rhiannon12866 Dec 2014 #2

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
1. A tragedy for Joe Biden who has continued to work to enhance the lives of others.
Sun Dec 14, 2014, 03:26 PM
Dec 2014

This is a touching story, she must have been a wonderful lady, a big loss. Nothing to put down Jill but Joe has been lucky to have two great ladies in his life, thanks for your story.

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