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Neilia Hunter Biden

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Neilia Hunter Biden
Biden in 1966
Born
Neilia Hunter

(1942-07-28)July 28, 1942
Skaneateles, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 1972(1972-12-18) (aged 30)
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Cause of deathTraffic collision
Burial placeSt. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery, Greenville, Delaware, U.S.
Alma materSyracuse University (MA)
OccupationTeacher
Spouse
​
(m. 1966)​
Children
FamilyBiden (by marriage)

Neilia Hunter Biden (July 28, 1942 – December 18, 1972) was an American teacher and the first wife of Joe Biden, who later became the 46th president of the United States. She died in a car crash with their one-year-old daughter, Naomi; their two sons, Beau and Hunter, were injured but survived the incident. Her death occurred six weeks after her husband's election to the U.S. Senate.

Early life and career

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Neilia Hunter was born on July 28, 1942, in Skaneateles, New York, to Louise (née Basel; 1916–1993) and Robert Hunter (1914–1991), who were Presbyterians.[1][2] Neilia had two brothers, John and Michael (1950–2023).[3] She attended Penn Hall, a secondary boarding school in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. She was active in the school's French club, field hockey, swimming and student council.[4] After secondary school, she attended Syracuse University and was a school teacher in the Syracuse City School District.[2][5] She was an English teacher at the Bellevue School in Syracuse, New York.[5][6] She was a first cousin of former Auburn city councilman Robert Hunter.[7]

Personal life

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The Biden family c. 1972, (clockwise from top left): Neilia, Joe, Robert, Joseph, Naomi

Neilia Hunter met Joe Biden in Nassau, Bahamas, while they were both on spring break.[8] Shortly afterwards, Biden moved to Syracuse to be closer to her and attend law school.[5] The couple married on August 27, 1966.[4] After Biden graduated from law school, the couple moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where he was on the New Castle County Council. They had three children: Joseph Robinette "Beau" III, Robert Hunter and Naomi Christina ("Amy").[9]

While Biden was campaigning to unseat U.S. Delaware Senator J. Caleb Boggs, Neilia was described by The News Journal as the "brains" of his campaign.[4]

Death

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On December 18, 1972, shortly after Joe became U.S. senator-elect, Neilia was driving with her three children west along rural Valley Road in Hockessin, Delaware. At the intersection with Delaware Route 7 (Limestone Road), their vehicle pulled out in front of a tractor-trailer truck traveling north along Route 7 and was struck by it. Police determined that Neilia had driven into the path of the tractor-trailer.[10][11] The truck driver, identified as Curtis C. Dunn, aged 47, of Avondale, Pennsylvania, escaped without any major injury (he died in 1999).[12][13] All four occupants of the Bidens' vehicle were taken to Wilmington General Hospital, where Neilia and Naomi were pronounced dead on arrival. Three-year-old Beau and two-year-old Hunter were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Beau with a broken leg and other wounds, and Hunter with a minor skull fracture and other head injuries.[14] Two weeks after the crash, Joe was sworn into the Senate at the hospital where his two sons were being treated.[4] Neilia and Naomi were buried in St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery in Greenville, Delaware.[15]

Legacy

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In a commencement speech at Yale University in 2015, Joe Biden, then serving as U.S. Vice President in the administration led by Barack Obama, spoke of his wife, saying, "The incredible bond I have with my children is the gift I'm not sure I would have had, had I not been through what I went through [after the fatal crash]. But by focusing on my sons, I found my redemption."[16]

Dedicated in her memory, Neilia Hunter Biden Park is in a suburban area of unincorporated New Castle County, Delaware.[17] Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, where Neilia's father ran the food service operation for many years, annually confers the Neilia Hunter Biden Award on two graduates—one is conferred for journalism and the other for English literature.[18] Among the early winners was William "Bill" Fulton, who later served as mayor of Ventura, California.[19]

A memorial plaque was erected at Bellevue Elementary School in Syracuse in Neilia's memory.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Uschan, Michael V. (April 9, 2010). Joe Biden. Greenhaven Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-4205-0260-2.
  2. ^ a b "Neilia Hunter to marry J. R. Biden". The News Journal. Wilmington, DE. March 29, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved July 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Obituary of Michael Edward Hunter". Langham Funeral Home. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Joe Biden Was Married To His First Wife, Neilia Hunter, For Only 6 Years". Women's Health. December 4, 2023 [May 13, 2020]. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Weiss, Abby (February 24, 2022). "THE ONE: Joe Biden's 1st wife Neilia Biden shaped his life, career while at Syracuse". The Daily Orange. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Kirst, Sean (January 20, 2021). "Sean Kirst: As Biden takes oath, his first wife's students think back to 'Neilialand'". Buffalo News. Buffalo, NY. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Rocheleau, Kelly (April 1, 2020). "'A good, caring person': Former Auburn city councilor Robert Hunter remembered". The Auburn Citizen. Auburn, NY. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  8. ^ Osnos, Evan (July 20, 2014). "The Evolution of Joe Biden". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  9. ^ Jagtiani, Sarika; Newman, Meredith; Sharp, Andrew (September 25, 2019). "Hunter Biden: A brief bio of former Vice President Joe Biden's son". The News Journal. Wilmington, DE. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Ott, Tim (June 11, 2024) [September 28, 2020]. "Joe Biden: The Heartbreaking Car Accident that Killed His Wife and Daughter". Biography. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  11. ^ Hamilton, Carl (October 30, 2008). "Daughter of man in '72 Biden crash seeks apology from widowed Senator". Newark Post. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Biden's Wife, Child Killed in Car Crash". The New York Times. December 19, 1972. p. 9. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Orr, Bob (March 24, 2009). "Driver in Biden Crash Wanted Name Cleared". CBS News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021.
  14. ^ Witcover, Jules (2010). Joe Biden: A Life of Trial and Redemption. New York, NY: William Morrow. pp. 93, 98. ISBN 978-0-06-179198-7. OCLC 688486009.
  15. ^ Lewis, Sophie (December 18, 2020). "Joe Biden visits graves of first wife and baby daughter on 48th anniversary of car crash". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Holter, Lauren (October 7, 2015). "What Happened To Biden's First Wife & Daughter?". Bustle. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Neilia Hunter Biden Park". Foursquare City Guide. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Ormie King: The Joe Biden Auburn met 48 years ago". The Auburn Citizen. Auburn, NY. August 23, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Ormie King: Bill Fulton's achievements rooted in Auburn upbringing". The Auburn Citizen. Auburn, NY. September 21, 2014. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021.
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