Please Post News and Commentary on Dana Reeve here

[Wise Young]

http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.as...5&nav=0zHF

Dana Reeve Dies After Battle With Lung Cancer

(White Plains, New York) - Robin Williams says, "The brightest light has gone out." He's reacting to the death of Dana Reeve. The woman who cared for her paralyzed husband, Christopher Reeve, for nearly ten years died Monday night of lung cancer.

On the Senate floor Tuesday, Democrat John Kerry said he'll "never forget the grace and the strength" Reeve showed shortly after the "Superman" actor died in October 2004. Kerry says lawmakers can honor the Reeves by promoting stem cell research.

An official at the Christopher Reeve Foundation says the Reeves' thirteen year old son is "in the loving care of family and friends." She says his mother arranged for Will's future.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Wise Young]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1725961,00.html

Christopher Reeve's widow, Dana, dies aged 44

Dan Glaister in Los Angeles
Wednesday March 8, 2006
The Guardian

Dana Reeve, who spent nine years caring for her husband, Christopher Reeve, after he was paralysed in a riding accident, died on Monday in New York of lung cancer.

Reeve, 44, announced last summer that she had cancer, but just four months ago said that she was responding well to treatment. She was a non-smoker.

Reeve set aside her own acting and singing career following her husband's 1995 accident. After his death she chaired the foundation he had established to research cures for spinal-cord paralysis. Her role as a carer for the Superman actor accorded her a special place in US culture. Last year she won a mother of the year award from the American Cancer Society, which lauded her "strength and courage in the face of tremendous adversity".

[Wise Young]

http://www.wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?a...&storyid=13700

Dana Reeve Dies
Story posted on 2006-03-07 13:09:00

--Family and friends say she dedicated her life to helping others. Today the nation mourns the passing of Dana Reeve, widow of "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve. Through her husband's struggles and her own battle with lung cancer friends say she never stopped trying to make a difference.

DANA REEVE WILL NO DOUBT BE REMEMBERED FOR HER DEVOTION TO HER HUSBAND, "SUPERMAN" ACTOR CHRISTOPHER REEVE AFTER A 1995 HORSEBACK RIDING ACCIDENT LEFT HIM PARALYZED. THE COUPLE CRUSADED PUBLICLY TO HELP FIND THERAPIES AND TREATMENTS FOR PARALYSIS.
--- WHEN CHRISTOPHER DIED IN OCTOBER 2004, DANA REEVE VOWED TO CARRY ON HER HUSBAND'S WORK, CHAIRING HIS FOUNDATION, WHICH FUNDS RESEARCH TO HELP PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES.
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SHE CAMPAIGNED TIRELESSLY FOR MORE STEM CELL RESEARCH. THEN, LAST AUGUST, REEVE SURPRISED EVERYONE WITH THE NEWS SHE HAD LUNG CANCER. DANA REEVE LEAVES BEHIND A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SON, WILL.

[Wise Young]

http://www.wtov9.com/news/7773043/detail.html

Cancer Claims Life Of Christopher Reeve's Widow
Dana Reeve Survived By Teenage Son, Two Stepchildren

POSTED: 8:23 am EST March 7, 2006
UPDATED: 5:37 pm EST March 7, 2006

SHORT HILLS, N.J. -- Dana Reeve, the wife of the late "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, died Monday night at a New York hospital of lung cancer. She was 44 years old.

A close associate described her as "a woman with an incredible heart."

Kathy Lewis, president of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, said Dana Reeve "really put herself out there to help" people with disabilities and caretakers.

Lewis said she visited Reeve in the hospital Friday and she "was tired but with her typical sense of humor and smile."

Reeve had announced on Aug. 9 that she had lung cancer. Four months ago at a fundraiser for the foundation, Reeve said she could stay in good spirits because of the model set by her late husband.

<snip>

Mourners Speak Out

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, called Reeve a "model of tenacity and grace" who inspired them as an "extremely devoted wife, mother and advocate."

On the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. John Kerry said he'll "never forget the grace and the strength" Reeve showed shortly after her husband died.

Lawmakers can honor the Reeves by promoting stem cell research, Kerry said.

Sen. Diane Feinstein said she hoped that after everything Reeve went through with her late husband Christopher Reeve "that she would have time to smell the flowers and be in the sun." The California Democrat said that it "was not meant to be."

"The brightest light has gone out," said comedian and actor Robin Williams, reacting to news of Dana Reeve's death.

Survivors include the Reeves' 13-year-old son, Will, and two grown stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra.

No funeral plans were announced. The family requested privacy and said donations could be made in Dana Reeve's memory to the Christopher Reeve Foundation in Short Hills, N.J.

[Wise Young]

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200603/030706a.html

U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242


VERMONT

Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy,
The Passing Of Dana Reeve
March 7, 2006

Mr. President, today I join with all Vermonters and with millions of other Americans in mourning the loss of Dana Reeve. A devoted wife and mother, a talented singer and actress, a determined and dedicated activist, Dana Reeve was the embodiment of grace and courage in the face of so many staggering challenges.

A graduate of Vermont’s Middlebury College, Dana pursued both acting and singing, appearing on television programs, on Broadway, and on other stages across the country. When she married Christopher Reeve, a dear friend of so many of us across this land, she could not know what direction her life would take.

I first met Chris in the 1980s and had the good fortune of spending time with him in my home state of Vermont. Over the years, Marcelle and I came to count Chris among our friends. I am privileged to say that Dana became a dear friend of ours as well.

When tragedy struck Chris and Dana’s lives in 1995, just three short years after their marriage, Dana’s love and courage became the focal point of so many stories. Left a quadriplegic in a tragic equestrian accident, Chris repeatedly credited Dana’s constant care, companionship and love with bringing him out of shadowy sadness he felt in the first months after the accident. Together they opened the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, designed to teach paralyzed people to live more independently. The also chaired the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which provides funds for research on paralysis.

When Chris died in 2004, Dana -- her courage never wavering -- assumed the Foundation’s chairmanship, and she came to the halls of Congress to make the case for easing the restrictions on stem cell research. Her unrelenting efforts to improve the quality of life for sufferers of paralysis have led to the distribution of more than $8 million in grant funding to support programs designed to improve the daily lives of paralyzed people. Despite being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005, Dana continued her advocacy efforts. In 2005, the American Cancer Society named her Mother of the Year.

Both Chris and Dana instilled in so many a hope and inspiration that can only come from conquering adversity. Their generous, vibrant and compassionate souls have touched an entire nation. Their young son, Will, will no doubt look to that strength as he continues through life. Two years ago I mourned the loss of my friend, Chris Reeve. Today, I join so many in mourning the loss of Dana, his inspiration, and ours as well.

[Wise Young]

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press...reeve3706.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2006
Contact: Joy Fox
(401) 732-9400

Langevin remembers the life of Dana Reeve

(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) joined the Reeve and Morosini families, the spinal cord injury community and many others worldwide in mourning the passing of Dana Reeve, the widow of late actor Christopher Reeve and Chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Foundation. She died late Monday, following a battle with lung cancer.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend and role model, Dana Reeve,” said Langevin. “In her short life, she faced the most overwhelming challenges and handled them with inspiring strength and grace.”

Following her husband’s accident, Mrs. Reeve helped establish the Christopher Reeve Foundation and became a champion for other families, using her own experience to improve the quality of life for all people with paralysis.

“Through her own courage and commitment, she showed us all how to take care of those we love,” continued Langevin. “I was so grateful when she took up the mantle after Chris's death to continue the work that he started. It is up to all of us now to move forward and continue their legacy. Dana will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and all those who mourn her.”

Langevin worked closely with Christopher and Dana Reeve in recent years on a range of issues that affect people living with paralysis and their loved ones. He was involved in establishing the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC), a federally funded program, which promotes the health and well-being of people living with paralysis and their families by providing comprehensive information resources and referral services.

In 2001, Langevin joined the Reeves in promoting the expansion of embryonic stem cell research, which offers the promise of cures for spinal cord injuries and many other disabilities and chronic conditions. In February 2005, Mrs. Reeve joined Langevin as his guest at the State of the Union in Washington, DC. Most recently, they appeared together at a “Cure Paralysis Now” rally held in Washington on April 12, 2005 urging passage of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act, which would coordinate and expand research, rehabilitation, and quality of life programs for people with spinal cord injuries.

[Wise Young]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...ostemailedlink

[QUOTE]Dana Reeve dies of cancer at 44

BY MICHAEL MUSKAL
LOS ANGELES TIMES

March 7, 2006, 4:08 PM EST

Dana Reeve, an actress whose days of sunny fame with her star husband Christopher turned into an odyssey of tragedy and hope, has died of lung cancer at the age of 44.

Reeve gave up her entertainment career to care for her husband during his 10 years of almost complete paralysis, when she and Christopher became fighting symbols for those who refused to give up, even against the most desperate odds. She used her celebrity to campaign for stem cell and other medical research to treat spinal cord injuries like the one that paralyzed her husband, best known for his starring turn in the movies as Superman.
She died Monday night at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Center in New York City, the Christopher Reeve Foundation announced.


"Dana will always be remembered for her passion, strength and ceaseless courage that became her hallmark," according to Kathy Lewis, foundation president, in a statement posted on its website. "Along with her husband Christopher, she faced adversity with grace and determination, bringing hope to millions around the world."

The death also drew memorials from the political world.

"Dana Reeve used the great personal challenge of her husband's paralysis to work so that other families would not have to endure the same pain," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D- San Francisco) in a statement released this morning. "By bringing hope to the sick and disabled with the miraculous potential of stem cell research, she has helped to continue the mending and renewing of the world that is possible through science."

more...

[Wise Young]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=61928

Pelosi Statement on the Death of Dana Reeve

3/7/2006 10:55:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Brendan Daly or Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616, both of the Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Web: http://democraticleader.house.gov

WASHINGTON, March 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning on the death of Dana Reeve:

"Today I offer my heartfelt condolences to Dana Reeve's family and friends. Her death, coming so soon after the death of her husband Christopher, is a source of deep sadness for so many -- both to those of us who knew her, and those who admired her work and her values.

"Dana Reeve used the great personal challenge of her husband's paralysis to work so that other families would not have to endure the same pain. By bringing hope to the sick and disabled with the miraculous potential of stem cell research, she has helped to continue the mending and renewing of the world that is possible through science.

"I hope it is a comfort to the Reeve family that so many people share their loss and are praying for them at this sad time."

http://www.usnewswire.com/

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http://us.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/03/07...bit/index.html

Dana Reeve dies of lung cancer at 44
Widow carried on activism after Christopher Reeve's death

Tuesday, March 7, 2006; Posted: 10:31 p.m. EST (03:31 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Dana Reeve, the widow of the actor Christopher Reeve, has died of lung cancer at age 44, according to the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

In August, less than a year after her husband's death, Dana Reeve -- a lifelong nonsmoker -- announced she had cancer. She died Monday night.

"We are all just so sad," foundation President Kathy Lewis said.

Lewis said that she had visited Reeve on Friday and that she was "strong and gracious and courageous." (Watch how Dana Reeve's work inspired admiration -- 1:52)

Reeve had succeeded her husband as the chairwoman of the foundation, which funds research for new treatments for spinal cord injuries and works to improve the quality of life for people suffering from paralysis.

Christopher Reeve died in October 2004 at age 52 after falling into a coma. He had been paralyzed since a horseback riding accident in 1995.

Reeve was widely admired for the support and love she showed for her husband and for her assistance in his care.

She also was a singer and an actress, appearing on stage and on television in episodes of several dramatic series, including "Oz" and "Law and Order."

In January, she sang at the NHL retirement ceremony for Mark Messier's New York Rangers jersey at Madison Square Garden.

"She sang beautifully. She looked lovely," said Kathie Lee Gifford, who interviewed Reeve at the event. "She was wearing a wig, of course. She had been through chemo and radiation. She was very thin, which you would expect for somebody going through what she was going through."

Gifford said she was surprised by the news because Reeve had seemed so healthy that night. (Watch how nonsmoking women face a lung cancer risk -- 3:34)

"I was absolutely stunned because she told me that day that the tumor was shrinking and she was the picture of optimism that night," Gifford said.

Kate Michelman, a member of the foundation's board, remembered Reeve as "a great spirit."

"The country suffers because Dana, on a personal level, was one of the most remarkable people I've ever known," Michelman said.

She said Reeve's health had seemed to improve, giving friends and loved ones hope that she might recover from the cancer. (Interactive: lung cancer explained)

"She was improving. You know, her own spirit and her own determination to overcome this plague made us feel she could do it," Michelman said.

"She just recently learned that she was failing and right up [till] the end, I have to tell you, Dana was convinced she was going to overcome this."

Michelman said Reeve's death is "a dreadful loss" but that the foundation will "move forward with Christopher and Dana's vision."

Dana and Christopher Reeve married in 1992 after a five-year relationship.

The actor was famous for his role as Superman in a trilogy of movies in the late 1970s and 1980s. He continued to act and direct films after his accident.

Legacy of hope'

Christopher Reeve became a crusader to help find therapies and treatments for paralysis and was an outspoken supporter of stem-cell research. Dana Reeve was credited with carrying on his work through the foundation.

"After Christopher's death, Dana was determined to preserve the important work and the legacy of hope that became his life's mission," Lewis said in a statement. "Even in our grief, the foundation must pick up and continue to go forward with this mission.

"At the same time, we commit ourselves to ensuring that the light of grace, courage and hopefulness that Dana embodied continues to shine bright -- bringing comfort and hope to people living with paralysis and their families and caregivers."

Less than two weeks after her husband's death, she made a public appearance to support the presidential campaign of Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry. (Watch how Dana Reeve became a political activist -- 1:57)

"I've been grieving privately the past week and a half," she said at a rally in Ohio. "My inclination would be, frankly, to remain private for a good long while."

But she added, "I'm here today because John Kerry, like Christopher Reeve, believes in keeping our hope alive."

Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said Reeve helped generate support for a bill that would expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. It was passed by the House last year, defying President Bush's veto threat.

"If it had not been for her, we would not have had the number of signatures on the stem cell bill that we had," Harkin said. "I'm absolutely convinced of that."

Reeve's experience had a special resonance for Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican who has recently battled cancer.

"President Nixon declared war on cancer in 1970. Had we devoted the resources to that war which we devoted to other wars, perhaps Dana Reeve's life could have been saved," he said.

Reeve's efforts have had setbacks, with the Senate yet to act on the stem cell bill.

And last month, Lewis said in a statement she was "deeply disappointed" that Bush's proposed budget eliminated funding for the foundation's Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center and other nonprofit groups.

Harkin, a personal friend, said he told Reeve's caregivers on Friday to pass along a promise.

"Just whisper one thing in her ear for me. Tell her that we are going to put that money back. I guarantee it," he said.

[Wise Young]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...030700407.html

Dana Reeve; Widow Advocated for Paralysis Research

By Adam Bernstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 8, 2006; Page B07

Dana Reeve, 44, a singer and actress who married "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve and raised millions for medical research after her husband was almost completely paralyzed in a horse-riding accident, died March 6 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

<snip>

After Christopher Reeve died in October 2004 at age 52, his widow assumed the chairmanship of the foundation, whose $6 million budget comes from a federal grant funneled through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She was credited with conceiving the foundation's Quality of Life Grants, which since 1999 have given $8 million to organizations that aid those primarily suffering from paralysis. She was a founder of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center and made countless appearances with politicians and other celebrities to advocate her medical research concerns.

She also compiled the book "Care Packages: Letters to Christopher Reeve From Strangers and Other Friends" (1999).

During that period, Mrs. Reeve slowly began to revive her acting career, appearing on Broadway and regional stages as well as on TV shows and in commercials.

She said she disliked sentimental media depictions of her husband's fight to relearn even the most limited motor functions and of her efforts to help him.

She especially loathed being called a "saint," telling Good Housekeeping magazine: "It bothers me to be thought of that way. Of course I'm doing this. What other option is there? What happened was a truly terrifying, life-altering thing, and my initial response was just like being hit by a bucket of water."

The daughter of a cardiologist, Dana Morosini was born March 17, 1961, in Teaneck, N.J., and raised in Scarsdale, N.Y. She was a 1984 cum laude English graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont and spent her junior year at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

She met Reeve in summer 1987 at the Williamstown (Mass.) Theatre Festival, when she was singing in a cabaret act. He found her immensely alluring, he wrote in a memoir, adding, "She wore an off-the-shoulder dress and sang 'The Music That Makes Me Dance.' "

She was skeptical of his advances at first, not wishing to fall easily into the arms of a muscular Hollywood actor best known for his title role in the "Superman" movies. She was alarmed when after 10 days of largely flirting, he invited her to join him in a midnight swim at a pond.

She told People magazine: "I thought, 'Oh God, here comes the old let's-get-naked-and-go-for-a-swim routine.' " Then he immediately offered to help her retrieve her swimsuit, and she was so relieved that later that night she gave him their first kiss.

They were married in 1992 after living together for five years, a time when she acted in commercials. She played a detective in the movie thriller "Above Suspicion" (1995), which starred her husband, and had minor roles on such television shows as "Law & Order" and "Oz." In 2000, she co-hosted a daily talk show on the Lifetime Television network, "Lifetime Live," with Deborah Roberts.

She also played a Long Island housewife married to a comedian (Rob Bartlett) in the short-lived Broadway play "More to Love" (1998). In 2004, she withdrew from the cast of Donald Margulies's Broadway-bound drama "Brooklyn Boy" to be with her husband before he died.