Hillary Clinton’s Mother, AHS Alumna, Passes Away

Posted on by

JENNIFER PIERCE
Copy Editor

One of AHS’ greatest merits is its age. With over a hundred years of history behind it, it is no wonder that there would be a few notable alumni from AHS.
One such alumnus is Dorothy Howell Rodham, mother of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 92.
Rodham was born on June 4, 1919 to Edwin Howell, Jr. and Della Murray in Chicago, Ill. After her parents divorced in 1927, Rodham and her younger sister were sent to Alhambra, Calif., to live with their grandparents, Edwin Howell, Sr. and Emma Howell. However, because of the harsh conditions that Mrs. Howell subjected Rodham to, Rodham was forced to move out and take a job as a housekeeper in 1934.
It was during her time as a housekeeper and under the encouragement of her employers that Rodham enrolled into AHS to further her education. In high school, she joined the Scholarship Club and the Spanish Club and eventually graduated in 1937. Later, in 1998, Rodham wrote about some of her high school experiences in a book celebrating AHS’ centennial.
After graduation, Rodham went out to Chicago in order to reunite

with her mother, as well as continue her education by enrolling in college classes. Unfortunately, neither of those dreams was realized, so she took up secretarial work in Chicago instead. In 1942, she married Hugh Ellsworth Rodham.
The couple moved to Park Ridge where their three children, Hillary, Hugh and Tony, were born and raised. As a mother, Rodham pushed her children to achieve the highest education.
Mr. and Mrs. Rodham moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1987 to be near their daughter, Hillary Clinton, and her family.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rodham passed away in 1993. Rodham stayed in Little Rock until 2006, where she lived mostly in Mrs. Clinton’s home in Washington D.C.
Rodham fell ill prior to her death, causing Mrs. Clinton to cancel a trip to Britain and Turkey. No details about Rodham’s illness were disclosed. Rodham died early Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Washington D.C. with the Clintons at her side.
“That’s really interesting,” senior Vanessa Ly said. “Maybe one of us [current AHS students] or our kids will be famous someday.”