Former Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the longest-serving senator in Utah history, died at 5:30 pm on April 23 at the age of 88. Born into a poor family, Hatch was first elected to the Senate in 1977 and served until 2019.
Orrin Hatch (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
On Saturday evening, the Hatch Foundation announced his passing on Twitter. Executive Director Matt Sandgren said, in part, “Born the son of a carpenter and plaster lather, he overcame the poverty of his youth to become a United States Senator. With the hardships of his upbringing always fresh in his mind, he made it his life’s mission to expand freedom and opportunity for others—and the results speak for themselves.”
The former senator leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and six children. He died in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by family members.
