M. Jodi Rell, who was the first (and, to date, only) Republican woman to serve as governor of Connecticut, beginning her seven years in office when the incumbent resigned in a corruption scandal, died on Wednesday in Florida.
Her family, providing no other details, said she died in a hospital after a brief illness.
Mrs. Rell had been the state’s lieutenant governor for more than nine years when, in July 2004, she began completing the term of Gov.
Known as a moderate Republican, Mrs. Rell sought bipartisan compromise — a goal that became more important to her, she said, when, five months after becoming governor, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
She returned to her office in the Capitol in Hartford nine days later.
Persons:
Jodi Rell, Rell, John G, Rowland, Dannel P, Malloy
Organizations:
Republican, Gov, Capitol
Locations:
Connecticut, Florida, Hartford
![Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg](/find/mix/0?q="Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg"){kind=link}