State Rep. Blumer dies from heart attack while driving
By Julie Masis
The Jewish Advocate
State Rep. Deborah Blumer, D-Framingham, 64, died last Friday after suffering a heart attack while driving.
Blumer was a staunch supporter of Israel, according to the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council Nancy Kaufman.
Blumer, who was elected to the State Legislature in 2000, was seeking a fourth term this year. Her colleagues said she worked tirelessly for her constituents.
As a result of her political work, the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest received direct state funds for its Aging Well in Place program for the first time this year.
The program allows workers from the Jewish Family Service to visit Framingham seniors in their apartments, which in turn allows them to remain there – instead of being forced into nursing facilities, according to Irit Tamir, JCRC's director of government affairs.
Blumer also worked with the JCRC to pass the Genetic Privacy Bill. As a result of this legislation, doctors are not required to report results to insurance companies if a woman tests positive for a breast cancer gene. Many Jewish women from Eastern Europe have that gene, Kaufman said.
In addition, Blumer helped obtain state funds to prepare immigrants for the U.S. citizenship exam, and she supported the Israel Travel Bill. Before the bill passed this summer, insurance companies could deny coverage to travelers who were going to Israel.
"She was a tireless champion of immigrants and refugees and was unapologetic about her support for newcomers," wrote Kaufman in an e-mail to the Advocate.
Blumer championed tuition breaks for illegal immigrants at state colleges, supported gay marriage and pushed to expand healthcare access to the uninsured. She was one of the authors of the Massachusetts healthcare bill that aims to insure every state citizen by July 1, 2007, according to Kaufman.
Marc Jacobs, the executive director of the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, said Blumer was involved with the organization for many years and cared deeply about seniors and people in need. Most recently, she helped establish a Newcomers Center to serve Framingham's immigrants.
The Boston Globe reported last week that Blumer's car struck a guardrail on Dudley Road in Framingham at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 13 after she suffered a heart attack. Blumer was taken to Metrowest Medical Center and pronounced dead at 11:35 a.m. The day prior to her death, Blumer campaigned for Deval Patrick in Framingham, where she appeared in high spirits.
According to newspaper accounts, Blumer's husband, Irwin, said that Deborah had a mild heart attack a few years ago and was taking medication. She would have turned 65 on Wednesday.
Funeral services for Blumer were held at Temple Beth Am in Framingham on Monday. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, and Deval Patrick were among the politicians who attended. Blumer is survived by her husband, three children and four grandchildren.
