Rest In Peace Dan Jensen

When Dan resigned his leadership positions in the community due to "personal issues" he confided in me that he was fighting lung cancer.  He kept positive and made it through his treatments and was doing well, he reported. Little did we know that a couple short weeks later, I would be getting a call that he was gone. It happened so quickly that I didn't get to say goodbye.

Dan Jensen was an incredible human being. He did so much for so many and tirelessly advocated for progressive issues and reforms. He spent countless hours volunteering, working to make this world a little bit brighter. Most recently he served as President of Progressive Oregon, and in many leadership roles within the Democratic Party of Oregon and the Washington County Democrats, as well as advocating for National Popular Vote.  We met during the Primary in 2016, working to elect Bernie Sanders, and from the moment we met, I saw that he was a man of integrity, one who commanded respect.

What many people don't know about Dan is the real struggles he faced. He lived a humble life in rural Washington County and did work in a local vineyard. Dan did not have insurance to cover his cancer treatment.  Dan would haunt me from the grave if I did not say: THIS IS WHY WE NEED MEDICARE FOR ALL. Fortunately, the hospital where he was receiving treatment had a charity program to help cover some of the costs, so he was one of the lucky few...but he leaves behind a grieving wife and family without the means to cover the costs of a funeral service and burial.

He kept his private life to himself, but to those who had the privilege of knowing him, he was funny as hell, kind, and was a fierce protector. Dan cared more about justice than gaining power or prestige and always fought for what he believed was fair and right. 
 
Please help us honor Dan and lighten the load for his family as they shoulder this sudden and unexpected loss, truly a loss for ALL of us. Rest in Peace Dan. You were so loved.