Alex Okrent, 29, a staff member of President Obama’s reelection team, died Friday following a collapse at the campaign headquarters. Okrent was treated by paramedics at the Prudential Building and was later transported to Northwesters Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Obama offered his condolences to Okrent’s parents following the announcement of his death.
Okrent was a deputy field director in Cleveland during Obama’s Illinois senate campaign in 2004.
“I worked with Alex during the successful 2008 Obama campaign and he was an incredible voice for LGBT issues with the president.” said Stampp Corbin, 2008 National Co-Chair of the Obama LGBT Leadership Council.
Several of Okrent’s counterparts and peer staffers offered condolences as well.
“[He was a] beloved member of our team. It’s been a very emotional day,” said David Axelrod, Obama’s senior campaign adviser, via Twitter.
Jeremy Bird, Obama’s National Field Director, tweeted, “We will miss you, Alex. You left a beautiful legacy. We will never forget your spirit or your passion. Rest in peace, brother.”
The exact cause of death has not yet been released.
I knew him and he was a DOUCHE!