[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S790-S791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING ANDREA QUAID

  Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I speak in honor of Andrea Quaid and 
reflect on her outsized impact in my office and across the State of 
Maine. Andrea passed away the morning of January 31, 2025. She was an 
exemplary model for living passionately and in the pursuit of making a 
difference in the lives of others. Andrea was a graduate of Dartmouth 
College--part of the first class that included women--and she was 
immensely proud to be part of that trailblazing path for other young 
women to follow. Her zest for life and for new and interesting things 
fueled her as she worked in several States and abroad--specifically in 
Paris--for a number of years before she made her way to Maine, where 
she found herself at home.
  In Maine, she forged her lifelong career with a decades-long 
commitment to public service, which began when she first worked as a 
legislative aide in the Maine State House; this role partly overlapped 
my terms of service as Maine's Governor. Andrea later worked as a 
trusted district representative for then-Congressman Mike Michaud, who 
served as Maine's Representative in the 2nd Congressional District for 
over a decade. To say that Andrea came to my office fully prepared to 
navigate issues of concern for Maine constituents would be an 
understatement; she didn't hit the ground running, it was more a 
sprinter's pace. In this role, Andrea exemplified what it means to be a 
dedicated public servant. In fact, as Andrea received care in her final 
days of being with us, she continued to think of others by referring 
other patients and hospital staff to her colleagues in my office for 
casework support. Andrea truly embodied selfless service--and did so 
through the final hours we were all fortunate to have her in our lives.
  Maine is often described as one big small town connected by long 
roads, and Andrea was well-known up and down our highways and byways 
for being heavily involved throughout the State for her volunteerism, 
friendship, and her ability to bring people together. In addition to 
her advocacy as

[[Page S791]]

a caseworker in my Augusta office, Andrea also served as a board member 
for the Franco-American Collection at the University of Southern Maine 
Lewiston-Auburn campus. Andrea was also well-known for her passion for 
theater. Not only did Andrea participate in community theater as an 
actress in productions at the Lewiston-Auburn Community Little Theater, 
but she also shaped the direction of the Lewiston-Auburn Community 
Little Theater as a board member.
  Andrea will be missed deeply and leaves behind her beloved brother, 
sister-in-law, niece, and nephew, as well as countless friends and 
colleagues. She will continue to live on through the many ways she 
touched the lives of everyone around her. I am certain that the 
community Andrea nurtured will reflect fondly on the laughter and 
memories we had the privilege to share with her. Until then, the State 
of Maine lost a proud daughter, and I join her friends, family, and 
fellow staff in grieving our loss.

                          ____________________