Neilia Hunter Biden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neilia Hunter Biden
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Biden in 1966
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Neilia Hunter
July 28, 1942 Skaneateles, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 18, 1972 (aged 30) Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Traffic collision |
| Resting place | Greenville, Delaware, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University (MA) |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | |
| Family | Biden (by marriage) |
Neilia Hunter Biden (born July 28, 1942 – died December 18, 1972) was an American teacher. She was the first wife of Joe Biden. He later became the 46th and current president of the United States.
Neilia Biden passed away in a car accident in 1972. Her one-year-old daughter, Naomi, also died in the accident. Her two sons, Beau and Hunter, were badly hurt but survived.
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Early Life and Education
Neilia Hunter was born on July 28, 1942. Her hometown was Skaneateles, New York. Her parents were Louise and Robert Hunter.
She went to Penn Hall, which was a boarding school in Pennsylvania. At school, she was very active. She joined the French club and played hockey. She also enjoyed swimming and was part of the student council.
After finishing secondary school, Neilia attended Syracuse University. She became a school teacher. She taught English at Bellevue Academy in Syracuse, New York.
Marriage and Family Life
Neilia Hunter first met Joe Biden in Nassau, Bahamas. They were both on spring break at the time. Soon after, Joe Biden moved to Syracuse. He went to law school there.
Neilia and Joe got married on August 27, 1966. After Joe finished law school, they moved to Wilmington, Delaware. Joe Biden served on the New Castle County Council.
The couple had three children together. Their names were Joseph Robinette "Beau", Robert Hunter, and Naomi Christina "Amy". When Joe Biden was campaigning to become a U.S. Senator, Neilia was a big help. The News Journal newspaper even called her the "brains" of his campaign.
Tragic Accident
On December 18, 1972, a sad accident happened. This was shortly after Joe Biden had been elected as a U.S. Senator. Neilia was driving with her three children. They were on Valley Road in Hockessin, Delaware.
At an intersection, her car was involved in a collision with a large truck. Police later said that Neilia's car entered the path of the truck. This might have been because of problems with seeing clearly. The truck driver was not seriously hurt.
All four people in Neilia's car were taken to the hospital. Sadly, Neilia and Naomi passed away at the hospital. Beau and Hunter survived, but they had serious injuries. Two weeks after the accident, Joe Biden was sworn into the Senate. This happened at the hospital where his sons were recovering. Neilia and Naomi were buried in St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery in Greenville, Delaware.
Remembering Neilia Biden
In 2015, Joe Biden gave a speech at Yale University. He was the Vice President of the United States at the time. He spoke about his wife, Neilia. He said that the strong bond he had with his children was a special gift. He felt he might not have had it if he hadn't gone through that difficult time. He found strength by focusing on his sons.
A park is named in her memory. It is called Neilia Hunter Biden Park. This park is in New Castle County, Delaware, near Wilmington.
Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, also remembers her. Neilia's father used to manage the food service there. Each year, the college gives out the Neilia Hunter Biden Award. This award goes to two graduates. One award is for journalism and the other is for English literature.
A special plaque was also placed at Bellevue Elementary School in Syracuse. This plaque honors Neilia's memory.
See also
In Spanish: Neilia Hunter para niños
