This article was originally published on Aug 26, 2009 and has been carried over from our previous website. Some legal details, dollar figures, and program rules may have changed since then — please contact us for current guidance.

Every senior, every parent of a child with a disability, every advocate for seniors and every elder law attorney should stop today and say a prayer of gratitude for the life and advocacy of the man I've been proud to call my senator. He was the author of over 300 bills and the critical sponsor of countless others, whose topics included but are not limited to:

not to mention the countless number of actions he has taken on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities in Massachusetts. His constituent service work was legendary, and every advocate in Massachusetts knew that calling his office would result in action.

Teddy… you will be deeply missed.