The family of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is mourning today.
Chao’s younger sister, Angela, an American shipping magnate, died in a car collision. Her family and company were the first to release the news.
Angela, the CEO of Foremost Group, a bulk shipping company, was only 50. No further details about her death have been disclosed. Her father, James S.C. Chao, said that the entire family was “heartbroken.”
“Angela’s name in Chinese sounds like the characters for peace and prosperity. She certainly gave more than her share of both to this world,” he said in a statement. “Her absence leaves a void not only in our hearts, but in the Asian-American community.”
From NBC News:
Angela Chao, one of six children, served as the Foremost Group’s CEO since 2018 and was also involved in a number of organizations, holding board positions on the American Bureau of Shipping Council, Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors, and the Metropolitan Opera, among others. Additionally, she was a founding advisory council co-chair of the nonprofit The Asian American Foundation, as well as chair of the foundation’s education committee, which aimed to help students “access quality education.”
“The Asian American Foundation is heartbroken to learn of the devastating death of Angela Chao, a beloved businesswoman, philanthropist and respected leader,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “Angela has left an indelible mark on The Asian American Foundation and the AAPI community. A brilliant and committed leader, Angela’s warmth, kindness, and infectious energy will live on in our work for decades to come.”
Chao was born in 1973 to James S.C. Chao, founder of the prominent shipping company, and the late Ruth Mulan Chu Chao. Her sister Elaine is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Information on other survivors was not immediately available.
Early on in life, Angela expressed interest in the shipping industry, according to her father.
Foremost Group was founded by Chao’s parents in 1964 with a focus on shipping dry bulk products worldwide.
The company released a statement lauding Chao’s passion and dedication “for incorporating environmentally sustainable practices throughout the company’s operations” giving its fleet “some of the largest, most modern and eco-friendly ships in the world.”
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