Rep. Chris Walsh, 66, Dies After Battling Cancer

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Rep. Chris Walsh, a Framingham Democrat in his fourth term in the Massachusetts House, died Wednesday night after a battle with cancer, his wife said on social media.

Walsh's wife, Cindy Walsh, said the representative died peacefully Wednesday night. He was 66 years old.

An architect by trade and the House vice chairman of the Committee on Education, Walsh was first diagnosed in July 2015 with non-Hodgkin's, small lymphocytic lymphoma and he underwent treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

A year ago, Walsh had planned to compete to be the first mayor of Framingham but soon thereafter announced that his lymphoma had returned and he would instead remain in the House and undergo cancer treatment.

"It has been a long year with 5 clinical trials and the cancer got the upper hand," Cindy Walsh posted on Facebook on Wednesday morning. "Love to all of you who have been with us through this."

Rep. Paul Brodeur, who joined the House in 2011 as a classmate of Walsh's, posted to Twitter on Thursday that Walsh "will be sorely missed" and commented that a photo with his post "captures his grace and good humor."

Middlesex DA Marian Ryan's Office tweeted: "Saddened to learn of the passing of Representative Chris Walsh. He was a tireless advocate for his constituents and some of our most vulnerable citizens, elders. His partnership in raising awareness about issues impacting seniors made a meaningful impact. He will be missed

Walsh is the fourth sitting representative to have died this session, along with Reps. Gail Cariddi, Peter Kocot and James Miceli.

Walsh represented the 6th Middlesex District in the House, which covered much of Framingham.

Photo from Walsh's Facebook page