“Today, we are learning that Montgomery County has lost a remarkable leader, advocate, artist, and friend with the death of former State Senator Karen S. Montgomery. Karen devoted her life to public service, championing policies grounded in compassion, equity, and dignity. She represented District 14 with insight and unwavering commitment, serving first in the Maryland House of Delegates and later in the Maryland Senate, where she became known for her thoughtful approach to complex issues and her ability to bring people together.
Often with her husband Harry at her side, Karen’s advocacy extended far beyond the walls of Annapolis. Her work was deeply personal, shaped in part by her experience as a parent of a child with autism. That lived experience fueled her decades long commitment to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She fought for increased funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration, improved access to services, and more inclusive policies centered on families and individuals. Her voice ensured that some of our most vulnerable community members were not only seen but valued.
As someone who also shares the experience of parenting a child with an intellectual disability, I felt a strong connection with Karen. Her empathy, her honesty, and her steadfast belief that government has a responsibility to uplift every family made her a trusted ally and a source of strength. I deeply appreciated her encouragement, her insight, and the authentic understanding she offered in moments when only another parent could truly understand the journey.
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Karen also enriched our community as an accomplished artist. Her creative work—honored through exhibitions such as the sculptural retrospective at the Sandy Spring Museum—reflected her curiosity, courage, and love for the cultural life of Montgomery County.
Today, we honor Karen not only for the legislation she shaped or the committees she served on, but for the humanity she brought to her work. She led with heart, and our County is better, stronger, and more compassionate because she gave so much of herself to public service.
On behalf of the residents of Montgomery County, especially those of her beloved Brookeville, I extend my deepest condolences to Karen’s family. We will remember her leadership, her artistry, her advocacy, and her fierce commitment to building a community where every person has the opportunity to thrive.
May her memory be a blessing and an enduring inspiration.”
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Read the original article at mcgov