NATION : Barbara Boggs Sigmund Dies
Mayor Barbara Rowena Boggs Sigmund, daughter of Rep. Lindy Boggs (D-La.), died today at home after a long battle with cancer. She was 51.
Sigmund’s cancer had cost her her left eye in 1982. Unable to wear a false eye, she took to wearing an eye patch and sewed dozens of color-coordinated patches to match various outfits. She gave out eye patches as a campaign promotion during her unsuccessful bid for the 1988 Democratic nomination for governor.
Sigmund announced in the fall of 1989 that the cancer had spread and was inoperable.
Her father, Hale Boggs, entered politics when she was 18 months old and became majority leader of the House of Representatives before he disappeared in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972. Her mother took over the Louisiana seat and was regularly reelected.
Her younger sister, Cokie Roberts, is a congressional correspondent for National Public Radio.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
