Gov. Ned Lamont’s (D-CT) office confirmed that former Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman has died at 80 and ordered U.S. and state flags on state government buildings to be lowered to half-staff in her honor.
“Nancy Wyman was a good friend to me, a good friend to Democrats, and a good friend to the people of Connecticut,” Lamont said in a statement Wednesday. “She was a tireless advocate for all things Connecticut, and in particular she made healthcare for all her personal crusade, working to develop policies that ensure everyone in Connecticut has access to affordable, quality healthcare services.”
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“She always made everyone laugh, seemed to have friends everywhere she went, and for fun she would walk long parade routes for several miles wearing her trademark stiletto shoes and a big smile. She will be missed and always warmly remembered. I share my deepest condolences with her husband Mike, their children and grandchildren, and all of their loved ones,” the statement continued.
Wyman built a decadeslong career in Connecticut politics that began with service on the Tolland Board of Education before serving in the state House of Representatives in 1987. She went on to serve as state comptroller from 1994 to 2010, becoming the first woman elected to the position in Connecticut.
Wyman was elected lieutenant governor in 2011 after joining former Gov. Dannel Malloy on the Democratic ticket. She served in the role until 2019. During her tenure, she played a prominent role in implementing the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut, advocating healthcare and social services.
Prominent political figures, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), remember Wyman as a politician whose personality could obscure the extent of her effectiveness. “As Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, and State Party Chair, Nancy Wyman left an indelible mark on Connecticut. She was a great friend to me, and I cannot believe she is gone,” Murphy wrote on X.
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“Her kindness, charm, and signature wit could sometimes disguise her immense policy and political acumen. But few people got more done for more people in need in our state than Nancy. She never needed to get all the credit – all she cared about was that government was serving the least powerful and the most deserving. I will miss her dearly,” he said.
Her cause of death has not been disclosed.
