U.S. Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii Dies at 49

[Eugene]

Source: NBC News

U.S. Congressman Mark Takai, who served as the representative for Hawaii's first district, has died, NBC News has confirmed.

Takai, 49, announced in May he would not seek re-election after recently learning that his pancreatic cancer has spread. Takai had planned to serve the rest of his term, which would have ended in January 2017.

On Wednesday, his office confirmed his death in a statement:

"Today, Congressman Mark Takai passed away at home, surrounded by family. Takai represented Hawaii's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th Congress and spent 20 years serving in the Hawaii State House of Representatives. In Congress Takai served as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business's Subcommittee on Contracting and the Workforce in addition to being a member of the House Committee on Armed Services."

The Takai family thanks the people of Hawaii for their support during this difficult time. Information regarding a service will be available at a later time. The Takai family politely asks for the continued respect of their family's privacy."

In a statement to NBC News Wednesday, Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), called Takai a "true patriot, public servant, and friend."

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Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/u-s-congressman-mark-takai-hawaii-dies-n613511

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JUL 20 2016, 3:57 PM ET
by TRACI G. LEE

[LisaM]

1. I hate this disease

49 is way too young. I just lost a friend to it, too.

[csziggy]

4. Lost a brother in law to is at 46

He had four children, died on his and my sister's 28th wedding anniversary.

The most horrible thing about pancreatic cancer is that it is often thought to be other things. My BIL had for years gone to doctors complaining of abdominal pain and discomfort. They never took it seriously until it was Stage IV and had spread too far to treat.

[No Vested Interest]

2. Condolences to the family and friends of Mark Takai and to his

constituents.

[gopiscrap]

3. RIP

[shenmue]

5. Noooooo

[7962]

6. Damn. WAY too young. I hate cancer. nt

[sheshe2]

7. RIP Mark.

[SunSeeker]

8. Pancreatic cancer is so lethal.

It took my mom within a few months of diagnosis.

The only person I am aware of who survived it is Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

[mahina]

9. A hui hou

To the bravest, smartest, strongest, humblest warrior.

He's leaving a beautiful family with his wife Sami and two young kids behind. I'm going to make recipes from his cookbooks he and Sami made when he was a state legislator and share them.