Beau Biden's Death The Latest Struggle For The Biden Family
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Beau Biden's experience with turmoil started at age 3, when his mother and sister were killed in a car accident, shortly after his father was elected to the United States Senate in 1972.
Beau's full name is Joseph Robinette Biden III. He spoke about the crash that changed his life at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
"My father went to Washington to see his new office space," Biden said. "My mom took us to go buy a Christmas tree. On the way home, were were in an automobile accident.
"My mom Neilia and my sister Naomi were killed. My brother Hunter and I were seriously injured and hospitalized for weeks. I was just short of 4-years-old."
He added that it was one of his first memories as a child.
Like his father, Beau went to the University of Pennsylvania, completed law school and pursued a career in politics.
Biden served in Iraq and at age 41 he suffered a stroke. A few years later, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Surgery removed the cancerous cells, but as is often the case with brain cancer, it came back stronger.
Biden lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 46. He is survived by his wife and two children.