Eliot Engel, the former New York congressman from the Bronx, died Friday, his family announced in a statement. He was 79.
The Democrat represented the Bronx during 16 terms in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2021.
Engel was present at the solemn session of the declaration of Kosovo's Independence on February 17, 2008.
He has been among the most supportive figures for Kosovo in Congress. In a 2023 article, he called for the US to stand with Kosovo, assessing that the Kosovo-Serbia disputes are not being properly addressed.
Engel had described NATO's intervention in Kosovo as the greatest foreign policy success for the West.
Eliot's family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by family "in the neighborhood he grew up in: the Bronx."
“During more than 44 years of public service, Eliot Engel fought tirelessly for his constituents at home and for peace and security around the world,” the family said in a statement. “We love and miss him dearly.”
Engel was first elected to Congress in 1988. He was defeated in the 2020 Democratic primary by Jamaal Bowman, the eventual winner of that year's general election.
In the final years of his term, Engel served as a ranking member and chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
“Throughout his career, Congressman Engel was a strong advocate for his constituents in Westchester and the Bronx. He was a champion of human rights and … helped shape U.S. policy on the global stage,” Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement. “His legacy is one of dedication, conviction and service.”
Engel was a member of the New York State Assembly for more than 10 years before becoming a congressman, scrum master CBS.
