Sad news from the campaign trail:
PITTSBURGH — The 70-year-old proprietor of a diner in Akron, Ohio, died hours after serving President Obama breakfast Friday morning, according to a published report.
Josephine “Ann” Harris, owner of Ann’s Place diner, died of a heart attack at 11:18 a.m. after suffering fatigue and being taken to a nearby emergency room, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Obama had arrived at the restaurant at 8:06 a.m., and he departed at 8:42 a.m., according to a press pool report.
Harris had reportedly hugged Obama when he stopped in for a plate of bacon and eggs at the start of the second day of the president’s bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Obama phoned Harris’s daughter, Wilma Parsons, from Air Force One on his way from Pittsburgh, where he ended the bus tour, back to Washington, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
“The president expressed his sorrow and his condolances,” Carney told reporters on the plane ride. “Very sad event, he was honored to meet her this morning and passed on his feelings that the whole family is in his thoughts and prayers today.”
The Beacon Journal reported that Harris adored Obama, quoting her sister Frankie Adkins as saying that meeting him Friday was “her highlight.”
Life is short, my friends.
