Jay Rockefeller, former West Virginia governor and U.S. senator, dies at 89

November 6, 2026 / 10:04 AM EST / AP

Jay Rockefeller, who served as West Virginia's governor and U.S. senator and was the last member of his family's political dynasty, has died at the age of 89.

He died Thursday night at his home in Washington, said Mary Stewart, vice president for external affairs at WETA, the public broadcasting station where Rockefeller's wife, Sharon, is president and CEO.

Rockefeller, a Democrat and the scion of one of the nation's richest families, spent a half century in public service in one of the poorest states. He arrived in 1964 as a worker in an anti-poverty program, was elected governor a dozen years later. He served two terms and then spent 30 years as a U.S. senator.

"I could not imagine a more rewarding career," Rockefeller said upon his retirement in 2015.

He was born John D. Rockefeller IV in New York City. His great-grandfather, Standard Oil Co. founder John Rockefeller, died a month before Rockefeller's birth. His father, John D. Rockefeller III, was a well-known philanthropist. Uncles Winthrop (Arkansas) and Nelson (New York) were Republican governors. Another uncle, David Rockefeller, ran Chase Manhattan Bank.

Jay Rockefeller went in a different direction.

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/