Dexter Celebrates Life and Legacy of State Representative Hòa Nguyễn

PORTLAND, OR- Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) released the following statement on the passing of Oregon State Representative Hòa Nguyễn:

"Oregon has lost a cherished daughter today. Representative Hòa Nguyễn was an inspiration to her community and all those who had the privilege to know her. She was the best of us-a public servant who fervently and powerfully fought for her district in East Multnomah County, all while meeting personal and professional challenges with resilience, humor and determination. The eldest daughter of Vietnamese refugees who found safety from war on U.S. soil, she deeply understood the importance of a compassionate safety net, public education, and meaningful opportunity for all.

"She dedicated her career to creating educational opportunity for all families. At Metropolitan Family Services and Neighborhood House she worked to connect families to critical services. She then began a lengthy career serving students, including at Roberts Elementary School, where she helped create their Walking School Bus and later as a Board Member of the David Douglas School District. She connected families with the support they needed, fought for every student's success, and served her community with compassion and courage.

"It was a profound honor to serve beside Hòa in the Oregon State Legislature, and an even greater privilege to be her friend. She was funny, generous, and warm. She loved to bring people together and enjoy delicious food. She created a welcoming space for people, no matter where they came from. She also met the unimaginable challenges of being diagnosed with a late-stage cancer with grace, optimism and grit; yet again inspiring those around her.

"Her legacy will live on in the classrooms she championed, the families she refused to leave behind, and in the hearts of each of us who will lean on her memory to guide us further in our service."

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