Johnny Isakson.Photo: J Scott Applewhite/AP/Shutterstock
Johnny Isakson, a former Georgia Republican senator and career politician, has died. He was 76.
The Atlanta native died overnight in the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 19, his neurocognitive disease research nonprofit theIsakson Initiativeannouncedon his Twitter account.
“It is with deep sorrow that The Isakson Initiative shares that former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson passed away overnight on December 19, 2021, at age 76,” the statement read. “Sen. Isakson’s family is grateful for the prayers and support. Funeral arrangements will be shared when finalized.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp paid tribute to Isakson, sharing a throwbackphotoof the pair. “Georgia has lost a giant, one of its greatest statesmen, and a servant leader dedicated to making his state and country better than he found it,” Kemp, 58,wrote.
“Johnny Isakson personified what it means to be a Georgian,” he added. “Johnny was also a dear friend of Marty, the girls, and me — as he was to so many. He answered the call to public service many times over his career as a state legislator, minority leader in the Georgia House, chair of the State Board of Education, Congressman, and finally as Senator.”
Kemp also recognized Isakson’s work advocating for veterans and bringing disaster relief to Georgia farmers during 2018’sHurricane Michael.
“As a businessman and a gifted retail politician, Johnny paved the way for the modern Republican Party in Georgia, but he never let partisan politics get in the way of doing what was right,” Kemp wrote. “Above all, Johnny was a wonderful father to his three children and a devoted husband to Dianne. Our family is sending our deepest condolences and prayers to the Isakson family, his former staff, and all lucky enough to call Johnny a friend. Georgians across our state join them in mourning the loss of one of our best.”
Georgia gubernatorial candidate and former Sen. David Perdue, who served alongside Isakson in the Senate, also released astatementin memory of his late colleague.
Isakson’s political career began in 1976 when he was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, and he served in the U.S. Senate from 2005until his retirementin 2019. He cited health reasons for his departure, having had a growth removed from his kidneys, while recovering from a fall that fractured four ribs, in addition to suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
“I am leaving a job I love because my health challenges are taking their toll on me, my family and my staff,” Isakson said in a statement at the time. “With the mounting health challenges I am facing, I have concluded that I will not be able to do the job over the long term in the manner the citizens of Georgia deserve. It goes against every fiber of my being to leave in the middle of my Senate term, but I know it’s the right thing to do on behalf of my state.”
source: people.com
