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U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker's father, Cary Booker, dies

U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker's father, Cary Booker, died Thursday at age 76 after a long bout with Parkinson's disease, the mayor's Senate campaign said.

The campaign said Cary Booker, who recently had a stroke, died in Las Vegas, where he lived with his wife Carolyn, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported.

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"Cary A. Booker was born on Dec. 10, 1936, and moved to New Jersey in 1969. He spent most of his professional career at IBM and was happily married to Carolyn Booker for 49 years," city spokesman James Allen said in a statement.

"Mayor Booker's father was an inspiration to him and someone the mayor has often credited with being a principal reason for him entering public service."

Cory Booker, a Democrat, is running against Republican Steve Lonegan for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Frank Lautenberg. The candidate could not be reached for comment. His staff told the newspaper he had suspended all campaign events.

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