He passed away today at age 95, after being afflicted with Alzheimer,s since 2003. A former vice-presidential candidate and Ambassador to France, Shriver may best be known for founding the Peace Corps. That's a proud legacy for anyone.
Sargent Shriver's legacy goes far beyond those accomplishments: The War on Poverty, Office of Economic Opportunity, Special Olympics, Head Start, VISTA, Jobs Corps, Upward Bound, Foster Grandparents, Community Action, Legal Services, The Shriver Center (formerly the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services), Indian and Migrant Services, and Neighborhood Health Services. There's probably much more that I haven't listed.
Is there a single person in the country who has not been affected, directly or indirectly, by this man's commitment to service?
Sargent Shriver showed the very best of the American character. He will be missed.
He even seemed to do Alzheimers's well. Certainly a great man from my generation.
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