Dianne Feinstein was an American politician. She was a United States senator for California from 1992 until she passed away in 2023. She was a member of the Democratic Party and also served as the mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988.
Bio/Wiki
Age-90years
Height-1.78 m
Weight- 55 kg.
Born-22 June 1933
Birthplace-San Francisco, California, United States
Died- 28 September 2023
Death place-Washington, D.C., United States
Spouse-Richard C. Blum (m. 1980–2022), Bertram Feinstein (m. 1962–1978), Jack Berman (m. 1956–1959)
Profession-Politician, Former Mayor of San Francisco
Nationality-American
Office-Senator (CA) since 1992
Previous offices-Mayor of San Francisco (1978–1988), MORE
Family
Dianne Feinstein, originally named Dianne Emiel Goldman, was born on June 22, 1933, in San Francisco. Her father, Leon Goldman, was a well-known surgeon, and her mother, Betty Rosenburg, was a former model. Feinstein’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Poland, and her maternal grandparents, the Rosenburgs, were from Saint Petersburg, Russia. Multiple sources indicate that Feinstein’s mother exhibited abusive behavior. Feinstein’s sister, Yvonne Banks, stated that their mother had unpredictable moods. Later, it was discovered through a brain scan that the part of her brain responsible for “judgment” had atrophied, potentially due to complications from a severe illness during her childhood.
Husband and Children
Feinstein had three marriages during her lifetime. She first married Jack Berman, who worked in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, in 1956. The couple divorced three years later and had a daughter, Katherine Feinstein Mariano, who served as the presiding judge of the San Francisco Superior Court for 12 yearsIn 1962, while embarking on her political career, Feinstein married her second husband, neurosurgeon Bertram Feinstein, who passed away from colon cancer in 1978.
Her third marriage was to investment banker Richard C. Blum in 1980, a union that lasted until his death from cancer in 2022.
Education
Feinstein completed her high school education at Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in 1951. She later graduated from Stanford University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
Political Career
Feinstein’s political career was marked by significant achievements. She was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 and later became its first female president in 1978. Following the tragic assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk, she succeeded Moscone as mayor, becoming the first woman to hold that position. During her tenure, she oversaw the renovation of the city’s cable car system and orchestrated the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Despite a recall attempt in 1983, she gained popularity and was recognized as the most effective mayor in the country in 1987.
After an unsuccessful run for governor in 1990, Feinstein was elected to the U.S. Senate in a 1992 special election. She became California’s first female U.S. senator and later became the state’s senior senator. Feinstein was reelected five times and received a record-breaking number of votes in the 2012 election. She authored the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee from 2009 to 2015, and served as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2017 to 2021.
At the time of her passing, Feinstein was the oldest sitting U.S. senator and member of Congress. She held several historic records, including being the longest-serving U.S. senator from California, the longest-tenured female senator in history, and the senior Democratic member of the Senate. In February 2023, Feinstein announced she would not seek reelection in 2024. Concerns about her mental fitness arose in her final years in office due to her aging and declining health.
Awards / Honors
- In 1977 Awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Golden Gate University in San Francisco on June 4th.
- In 1984 Conferred the Legion of Honour by France.
- In 2001 Received the Woodrow Wilson Award for public service from the Woodrow Wilson Center of the Smithsonian Institution on November 3rd in Los Angeles.
- In 2002 Won the American Medical Association’s Nathan Davis Award for “the Betterment of the Public Health”.
- In 2015 Named as one of The Forward 50, an annual list recognizing influential individuals, in 2015.
Net Worth 2023
In 2003, Feinstein was ranked as the fifth-wealthiest senator, possessing an estimated net worth of $26 million. Over the subsequent years, her net worth grew significantly, ranging between $43 and $99 million by a later period. On July 17, 2023, Feinstein transferred power of attorney to her daughter, Katherine.
As of 2023, Feinstein’s estimated net worth is $19.4 million.
Cause of Death
The Democratic senator Feinstein passed away from natural causes at her residence in Washington, D.C., around 2:00 am Eastern Standard Time on September 29, 2023. She was a pioneering figure in Washington, notably becoming the first woman to chair the influential Senate Intelligence Committee.
Throughout her nearly 31-year tenure in the Senate, she built a record that ranged from moderate to liberal, occasionally facing criticism from the left. Feinstein entered the Senate in 1992 after winning a special election and was subsequently re-elected five times, including in 2018, making her the longest-serving female senator in history.
President Joe Biden praised her as a “role model for so many Americans” and a “treasured friend” to him and his wife, Jill.
“There’s no better example of her skillful legislating and sheer force of will than when she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons,” the president said in a statement.
“Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties.
In the Senate chamber, Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats, delivered a heartfelt tribute.
“As the nations mourns this tremendous loss, we’re comforted in knowing how many mountains Dianne moved, how many lives she impacted, how many glass ceilings she shattered along the way,” he said.
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