CONCORD, N.H. -- Gov. Hugh Gallen, 58, died of liver and kidney failure Wednesday in a Boston hospital and Statehouse flags were immediately lowered to half staff.
The governor's news secretary, Jennifer Murray, said Gallen died at 3:49 p.m. at Boston's Brigham and Women's hospital where he has been treated for a blood infection since Nov. 20.
The governor died of 'hepatic and renal failure' complicated by internal bleeding, Mrs. Murray said. The governor's wife and children were at his side.
Flags on the Statehouse were lowered to half staff shortly before the announcement of Gallen's death.
Gallen, who served two terms, lost to Gov.-elect John Sununu last November. After the election, a visibly tired Gallen flew to St. Croix, Virgin Islands, to recuperate from months of campaigning.
Gallen checked into a St. Croix hospital Nov. 19 and was placed on the critical list, suffering from what doctors said was dehydration.
The following day, he was flown by ambulance plane to Boston and entered Brigham and Women's Hospital. Doctors first said the governor was suffering from hepatitis but later said it was a blood infection.
Senate President Vesta Roy has been serving as acting governor since Gallen was hospitalized.
Dr. Marshall Wolf, acting physician-in-chief, said the infection impaired Gallen's kidneys, requiring him to undergo dialysis treatments.
Gallen's condition was later upgraded from critical to serious and aides predicted he might be out of the hospital before his term ended. On Christmas Day, he insisted on being driven 157 miles to his home in Littleton to spend two hours with his grandchildren.
He returned to Boston Christmas night, suffering from bleeding in his stomach. Gallen was placed in the intensive care unit and his condition was again listed as critical.
Gallen's chief of staff, Dayton Duncan, said the bleeding incidents were not related to his Christmas Day trip.
The governor has three children and a young granddaughter, whom family members have said has been a great favorite of the governor.
