Obama Campaign Staffer Collapses, Dies At Chicago Campaign HQ
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 14, 2012 2:00PM
A 29-year-old staffer for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign died after collapsing in the Obama Chicago headquarters Friday morning. Alex Okrent, a 2001 graduate of Evanston Township High School and graduate of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, worked with the Obama campaign since his first United States Senate run in 2004. Okrent's family told Fox Chicago News he was most impressed by Obama among the pool of candidates.
"He's very fierce about what he believed and what he didn't believe and he had such passion for the work he did, and for his family. He told us he loved us every day. Every time we talked to him," [Okrent's mother Lynn] Pollack said.
Okrent worked in the Obama campaign's paid media department, which handles advertising for the president's re-election bid. He collapsed after a morning workout and was found unresponsive at the Obama campaign's Prudential Building offices. Paramedics were called to the offices at 10:36 a.m. and Okrent was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m.
President Obama called Okrent's family to offer his condolences. His campaign and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney also offered their condolences via Twitter.
A beloved member of our campaign family, Alex Okrent, passed away today. Our prayers are with his loved ones. We will miss you, Alex. -bo
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 14, 2012
Ann & I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Alex Okrent. Prayers are with Alex’s loved ones and the entire Obama campaign team.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 13, 2012
Obama chief campaign strategist David Axelrod responded to Romney's tweet.
@MittRomney Thank you, governor. Alex was a beloved member of our team.It's been a very emotional day.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 13, 2012
Updtate: In Washington last night, a large group of Okrent's friends from the Obama administration and previous campaigns gathered at Stetson's, a popular watering hole that was one of Okrent's favorite bars. Over pitchers of beer they mourned Okrent and shared memories about his life and work.