Colleen Mary House, who made an unexpected foray into Michigan politics nearly 50 years ago and paved the way for women in Congress, died on Christmas Eve after a two-year battle with dementia. , her family announced Wednesday. she was 70 years old.
House died at her home in Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C., with her husband, John Gigi, a senior White House correspondent for Newsmax.
“Colleen left my life with a warm smile, dancing eyes and unconditional love.
At 22, she became the youngest woman to serve in the Michigan Legislature. But she pretty much went the other way.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in political science in 1973, House wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps as a flight attendant for Pan Am Airlines. But with airlines cutting international flights amid the energy crisis, House volunteered for the Republican congressional campaign in a special election in his hometown of Bay City.
Democrat Bob Traxler won the election to fill the seat vacated by Republican James Harvey, who had been appointed as a federal judge.
House then won Traxler’s seat with the help of future Michigan Gov. John Engler, who was a state legislator at the time, News reported.
It was seen as an upset victory in then-Democratic Bay County.
House was also the first Republican to win a seat in more than 20 years, according to his obituary.
The rising political star was scheduled to be featured on a Republican National Telethon hosted by then-Chairman of the Republican National Committee, George HW Bush. However, the event was canceled at the last minute as President Nixon resigned in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal.
She was re-elected to the House of Representatives in 1974, and she married Engler the following April.
According to news archives, they were the only husband-and-wife team in Congress. The couple divorced in 1988.
After the House lost re-election in 1976, she moved to Ingham County. From 1977 to her 1978, she served as Director of Public Affairs for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Her connection to Bush led to a role in supporting the presidential campaign in Michigan’s primary, where Bush defeated front-runner Ronald Reagan. His victory in Michigan helped keep him in the political conversation, eventually leading to Reagan’s nomination of him as Vice President.
House eventually went on to serve in the administration of the 41st President of the United States as the head of intergovernmental affairs for the US Department of Commerce.
Before moving to Washington, House returned to the state legislature in 1982, representing Isabella and Mecosta counties, and was re-elected in 1984, according to the Library of Michigan.
In 1986, she was the first woman to run for governor of Michigan, but lost the primary.
At the time, The News reported that Lansing’s think tank, Public Sector Consultants, described her as “one of the most dynamic speakers of any Republican nominee and that she has a very firm grasp of state affairs.” I expected it, but I couldn’t bring it up.” It’s money to publicize her position. ”
She ran alongside Republican nominee Bill Lucas as the candidate for lieutenant governor, but lost to incumbent Governor Jim Blanchard.
After completing his term in the Bush administration, House worked for nearly a quarter of a century at the International Republican Institute, which he joined in 1993.
House has long been active at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where she served as Mass instructor, training other parishioners to read portions of the Mass, and serving as Papal instructor. relatives said.
In addition to her husband, other survivors include sister Anne House Quinn. Three nieces, Bridget House, Kathleen Quinn and Elizabeth Quinn. Three nephews, George H. McElroy, Dr. Jude McElroy, and James Quinn. Brothers-in-law T. Anthony Quinn, Charles J. Rose, and Michael Kcisto.
The funeral will be held on February 18 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral. A reception will follow at the Army and Navy Club.
The monument is dedicated to St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the Fraternity of St. Peter, or the Hospice Society of America.