Mourners are gathered this week to honor the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein following herdeath on Sept. 28at the age of 90.
The history-making Democrat is best known for her thirty-year tenure in the United States Senate, but before opening doors for women on Capitol Hill, she was an inspirational fixture in her hometown of San Francisco.
On Wednesday, crowds gathered at San Francisco City Hall — the birthplace of Feinstein’s public career — to see her lie in state. On Thursday, prominent Democratic colleagues assembled outside City Hall for her memorial service to share words of tribute to the political giant.
01of 14
Feinstein’s Body Arrives at San Francisco International Airport
Left to right: son-in-law Rick Mariano, daughter Katherine Feinstein, granddaughter Eileen Mariano, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi.AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron
AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron
Feinstein died of natural causes in her Washington, D.C. home last week, hours after casting a vote on the Senate floor to try and avert a government shutdown.
Her daughter Katherine Feinstein, longtime friendNancy Pelosi, and chief of staff James Sauls flew her body home to San Francisco on Sept. 30.
02of 14City Hall Honors Feinstein’s CareerAn American flag hangs outside San Francisco City Hall before the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein lies in state.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via GettyFor Feinstein’s 50-plus years in public service, trucks from the San Francisco Fire Department framed City Hall with a large United States flag ahead of her casket’s arrival on Wednesday morning.
02of 14
City Hall Honors Feinstein’s Career
An American flag hangs outside San Francisco City Hall before the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein lies in state.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty
For Feinstein’s 50-plus years in public service, trucks from the San Francisco Fire Department framed City Hall with a large United States flag ahead of her casket’s arrival on Wednesday morning.
03of 14A Stately WelcomeThe body of Sen. Dianne Feinstein arrives at City Hall before lying in state.AP Photo/Godofredo A. VasquezFeinstein gets a warm greeting as her body arrives at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday morning. Her casket, pictured here in a hearse, is adorned with a U.S. flag.
03of 14
A Stately Welcome
The body of Sen. Dianne Feinstein arrives at City Hall before lying in state.AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez
AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez
Feinstein gets a warm greeting as her body arrives at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday morning. Her casket, pictured here in a hearse, is adorned with a U.S. flag.
04of 14Katherine Feinstein and Husband Greet the CasketDianne Feinstein’s son-in-law Rick Mariano and daughter Katherine Feinstein greet their mother’s body as it arrives at City Hall.Jessica Christian-Pool/GettySon-in-law Rick Mariano and daughter Katherine Feinstein put their right hands over their hearts as Feinstein’s casket is brought from the hearse up the steps of City Hall.Forty-five years ago, Feinstein — then the city’s first female board president — stood on the same grounds, announcing the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. As the mayor’s designated successor, she became in an instant the most powerful woman in San Francisco history, tasked with picking up the pieces of a city in mourning.
04of 14
Katherine Feinstein and Husband Greet the Casket
Dianne Feinstein’s son-in-law Rick Mariano and daughter Katherine Feinstein greet their mother’s body as it arrives at City Hall.Jessica Christian-Pool/Getty
Jessica Christian-Pool/Getty
Son-in-law Rick Mariano and daughter Katherine Feinstein put their right hands over their hearts as Feinstein’s casket is brought from the hearse up the steps of City Hall.
Forty-five years ago, Feinstein — then the city’s first female board president — stood on the same grounds, announcing the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. As the mayor’s designated successor, she became in an instant the most powerful woman in San Francisco history, tasked with picking up the pieces of a city in mourning.
05of 14
The Pelosis and Feinsteins Come Together
The Pelosi and Feinstein families stand at the late senator’s side.
The Pelosi family showed their support for the Feinsteins on Wednesday, approaching the casket with a few of the late senator’s surviving relatives and even shedding smiles in each other’s company.
06of 14One Last EmbraceRep. Nancy Pelosi puts her arm around the casket of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.AP Photo/Godofredo A. VasquezFormer House Speaker Nancy Pelosismiles and hugs Feinstein’s casketas she lies in state at the City Hall on Wednesday.In anessay forSan Francisco Chroniclepublished Thursday, Pelosi wrote about her “beautiful friendship” with the fellow San Francisco native, calling her an “iconic, indomitable leader” who made her hometown and state proud throughout her career.
06of 14
One Last Embrace
Rep. Nancy Pelosi puts her arm around the casket of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosismiles and hugs Feinstein’s casketas she lies in state at the City Hall on Wednesday.
In anessay forSan Francisco Chroniclepublished Thursday, Pelosi wrote about her “beautiful friendship” with the fellow San Francisco native, calling her an “iconic, indomitable leader” who made her hometown and state proud throughout her career.
07of 14The Gay Men’s Chorus Echoes Through the RotundaThe San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs to family and friends of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 4, 2023.The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs for family and friends of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as she lies in state at City Hall on Wednesday.Feinstein was the mayor of San Francisco during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, making a commitment to support the LGBTQ+ community early on in her career.“As mayor, her love for her fellow San Franciscans was extraordinary,” Pelosi wrote of Feinstein in her essay for theChronicle. “In the depths of the HIV/AIDS crisis, as many of us were going to two funerals a day, she led our city with compassion and care while defending the health and dignity of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.“On Capitol Hill, Feinstein was one of only 14 senators to vote against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which legally defined marriage as between a man and woman.She worked through the years to repeal DOMA, introducing a counter-bill in 2011 that ultimately failed. In 2022, aiming to enshrine same-sex marriage protections into federal law, Feinstein became the lead Senate sponsor on theRespect for Marriage Act, whichsuccessfully repealed the discriminatory 1996 marriage law.
07of 14
The Gay Men’s Chorus Echoes Through the Rotunda
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs to family and friends of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 4, 2023.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus performs for family and friends of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as she lies in state at City Hall on Wednesday.
Feinstein was the mayor of San Francisco during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, making a commitment to support the LGBTQ+ community early on in her career.
“As mayor, her love for her fellow San Franciscans was extraordinary,” Pelosi wrote of Feinstein in her essay for theChronicle. “In the depths of the HIV/AIDS crisis, as many of us were going to two funerals a day, she led our city with compassion and care while defending the health and dignity of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.”
On Capitol Hill, Feinstein was one of only 14 senators to vote against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which legally defined marriage as between a man and woman.
She worked through the years to repeal DOMA, introducing a counter-bill in 2011 that ultimately failed. In 2022, aiming to enshrine same-sex marriage protections into federal law, Feinstein became the lead Senate sponsor on theRespect for Marriage Act, whichsuccessfully repealed the discriminatory 1996 marriage law.
08of 14Mourners Show Up in DrovesCrowds flow into San Francisco City Hall to pay respects to late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 4, 2023.Lines continued to wind through City Hall late on Wednesday afternoon, as members of the public waited to pay their respects to the storied San Francisco lawmaker.
08of 14
Mourners Show Up in Droves
Crowds flow into San Francisco City Hall to pay respects to late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 4, 2023.
Lines continued to wind through City Hall late on Wednesday afternoon, as members of the public waited to pay their respects to the storied San Francisco lawmaker.
09of 14Writing LettersA mourner leaves a note addressed to late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at San Francisco City Hall on Oct. 4, 2023.Mourners had the opportunity to write letters to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at City Hall on Wednesday, thanking her for her service and sharing stories of what her career meant to them.Above, mourner Gail Hills writes a note, later tellingThe Washington Post:“Senator Feinstein Helped this city and the country. She never forgot about us.”
09of 14
Writing Letters
A mourner leaves a note addressed to late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at San Francisco City Hall on Oct. 4, 2023.
Mourners had the opportunity to write letters to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at City Hall on Wednesday, thanking her for her service and sharing stories of what her career meant to them.
Above, mourner Gail Hills writes a note, later tellingThe Washington Post:“Senator Feinstein Helped this city and the country. She never forgot about us.”
10of 14
From left to right: Eilieen Marian, Christine Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi.
After a long first day of memorial proceedings, Feinstein’s loved ones wait outside City Hall for the senator’s casket to be transported to a funeral home.
Pictured above are Nancy Pelosi (right), her daughter Christine Pelosi (center), and Feinstein’s granddaughter Eileen Mariano (left).
11of 14Day 2: The Memorial ServiceSen. Dianne Feinstein’s memorial service at San Francisco City Hall on Oct. 5, 2023.Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via GettyA memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein began on Thursday afternoon against the backdrop of San Francisco City Hall — where her career took off as a city supervisor and, eventually, the mayor from 1978 to 1988.
11of 14
Day 2: The Memorial Service
Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s memorial service at San Francisco City Hall on Oct. 5, 2023.Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty
A memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein began on Thursday afternoon against the backdrop of San Francisco City Hall — where her career took off as a city supervisor and, eventually, the mayor from 1978 to 1988.
12of 14Vice President Harris Returns HomeVice President Kamala Harris speaks at the memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 5, 2023.LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via GettyVice PresidentKamala Harris, another barrier-breaking alum of San Francisco politics — she served as district attorney from 2004 to 2011 — speaks at the memorial service for Sen. Feinstein on Thursday afternoon.Harris served as a California senator alongside Feinstein from 2017 to 2021.
12of 14
Vice President Harris Returns Home
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 5, 2023.LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty
LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty
Vice PresidentKamala Harris, another barrier-breaking alum of San Francisco politics — she served as district attorney from 2004 to 2011 — speaks at the memorial service for Sen. Feinstein on Thursday afternoon.
Harris served as a California senator alongside Feinstein from 2017 to 2021.
13of 14Senate Leader Delivers RemarksSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivers remarks at a memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 5, 2023.Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP PhotoSenate Majority LeaderChuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York who joined the Senate six years after Feinstein, also delivered remarks at the memorial service on Thursday afternoon.Last week he told stories about Feinstein on the Senate floor, later writing on X: “Senator Dianne Feinstein was in a class of her own. Powerful. Poised. Unflappable. She had to be: whenever she did something, she was often the first to do it.““She didn’t just push down doors that were closed for women,” he continued in the post, “she held them open for generations of women to follow.”
13of 14
Senate Leader Delivers Remarks
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivers remarks at a memorial service for Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Oct. 5, 2023.Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP Photo
Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP Photo
Senate Majority LeaderChuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York who joined the Senate six years after Feinstein, also delivered remarks at the memorial service on Thursday afternoon.
Last week he told stories about Feinstein on the Senate floor, later writing on X: “Senator Dianne Feinstein was in a class of her own. Powerful. Poised. Unflappable. She had to be: whenever she did something, she was often the first to do it.““She didn’t just push down doors that were closed for women,” he continued in the post, “she held them open for generations of women to follow.”
14of 14Words from a FriendRep. Nancy Pelosi speaks at her friend and colleague Dianne Feinstein’s memorial service on Oct. 5, 2023.Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP PhotoCalifornia Rep. Nancy Pelosi had a chance to offer more formal remarks about her former friend and colleague on Thursday, taking the stage at her memorial service and breaking a smile in spite of her grief.
14of 14
Words from a Friend
Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks at her friend and colleague Dianne Feinstein’s memorial service on Oct. 5, 2023.Godofredo A. Vasquez/AP Photo
California Rep. Nancy Pelosi had a chance to offer more formal remarks about her former friend and colleague on Thursday, taking the stage at her memorial service and breaking a smile in spite of her grief.
source: people.com
