Biden’s son dies after losing battle with brain cancer

Beau Biden, who followed his father, US vice president Joe Biden, into politics has died of brain cancer at the age of 46, less than two years after he was diagnosed.

Mon, 01 Jun, 2015 - 01:00

Beau Biden, who was twice elected attorney general of Delaware, announced last year that he would not seek a third term as attorney general and planned to run for governor in 2016.

“It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life,” the vice president said, announcing the death of his second child. An infant daughter was killed in a car accident more than four decades ago.

“The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us — especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children,” he said.

President Barack Obama said he and his wife, Michelle, were grieving alongside the Biden family.

“Michelle and I humbly pray for the good Lord to watch over Beau Biden, and to protect and comfort his family here on Earth,” Obama said.

The vice president said his son had dedicated his life to serving others during stints as a lawyer, a major in the Delaware National Guard and as state attorney general.

Beau Biden served a year-long deployment in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star.

He most recently was with the Wilmington, Delaware, law firm Grant & Eisenhofer, where he focused on securities litigation and whistle-blower cases.

“More than his professional accomplishments, Beau measured himself as a husband, father, son and brother,” said Joe Biden, who was at his son’s side at the time of his death, along with the rest of the family.

“His absolute honour made him a role model for our family. Beau embodied my father’s saying that a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did.

“In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.”

Beau Biden was first diagnosed with brain cancer in August 2013. He underwent surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston to remove a lesion and was treated with radiation and chemotherapy before doctors gave him a clean bill of health three months later.

He suffered a recurrence of cancer this spring and was admitted to Walter Reed in May, officials said.

He is survived by his wife, Hallie, and children Natalie, 11, and Hunter, nine, along with his parents, a brother and sister, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, and three nieces.