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Created page with "{{Short description|First wife of President Joe Biden}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Neilia Hunter Biden | image =..."

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{{Short description|First wife of President Joe Biden}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Neilia Hunter Biden
| image = File:Neilia Hunter.jpeg
| caption = Neilia Hunter Biden in 1966
| birth_name = Neilia Hunter
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|7|28}}
| birth_place = [[Skaneateles (town), New York|Skaneateles, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1972|12|18|1942|7|28}}
| death_place = [[Wilmington, Delaware]], U.S.
| death_cause = Traffic collision
| resting_place = [[Greenville, Delaware]], U.S.
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| burial_place = 
| burial_coordinates = 
| other_names =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Syracuse University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| occupation = Teacher
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Joe Biden]]|1966}}
| children = [[Beau Biden]]<br>[[Hunter Biden]]<br>[[Naomi Biden]]
| parents = 
| relatives =
| family = Hunter (by birth) <br>[[Family of Joe Biden|Biden]] (by marriage)
}}

'''Neilia Hunter Biden''' (July 28, 1942 – December 18, 1972) was an American teacher and the first wife of [[Joe Biden]], the 46th and current [[president of the United States]]. She died in an automobile crash in 1972 along with her one-year-old daughter, Naomi. Her two sons, [[Beau Biden|Beau]] and [[Hunter Biden|Hunter]], were critically injured but survived the wreck.

== Early life and career ==

Neilia Hunter was born on July 28, 1942, in [[Skaneateles (town), New York|Skaneateles, New York]], to Louise (née Basel; 1915–1993) and Robert Hunter (1914–1991).<ref name="NHJBNJ">{{cite news |date=March 29, 1966 |title=Neilia Hunter to marry J. R. Biden |work=The News Journal |location=Wilmington, Del. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30963055/the-news-journal/ |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> She attended Penn Hall, a [[secondary school|secondary]] boarding school in [[Pennsylvania]]. She was active in the school's [[French language|French club]], [[field hockey|hockey]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[student council]].<ref name="JBM6Y">{{cite news |title=Joe Biden Was Married To His First Wife, Neilia Hunter, For Only 6 Years |url=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a32440131/joe-biden-first-wife-neila-hunter/ |work=Women's Health |date=May 13, 2020 |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> After secondary school, she attended [[Syracuse University]] and was a school teacher in the [[Syracuse City School District]].<ref name="NHJBNJ"/> She was also an English teacher at the Bellevue Academy.<ref name="buffalonews">{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/sean-kirst-as-biden-takes-oath-his-first-wifes-students-think-back-to-neilialand/article_af6d6728-5a7f-11eb-a6bd-9ff187e0f584.html|title=Sean Kirst: As Biden takes oath, his first wife's students think back to 'Neilialand'|website=[[Buffalo News]]|date=February 27, 2021|access-date=July 28, 2021|first=Sean|last=Kirst}}</ref> She was related to former [[Auburn, New York|Auburn]] city councilman Robert Hunter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rocheleau |first1=Kelly |title='A good, caring person': Former Auburn city councilor Robert Hunter remembered |date=April 1, 2020 |url=https://auburnpub.com/news/local/a-good-caring-person-former-auburn-city-councilor-robert-hunter-remembered/article_ba25c123-e085-5fa3-8c22-7ebd001b4bb7.html |work=Auburn Citizen |location=Auburn, New York |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

== Marriage and family life ==
Neilia Hunter met [[Joe Biden]] in [[Nassau, Bahamas]], while they were both on [[spring break]].<ref name="OEJBNYR">{{cite news |last1=Osnos |first1=Evan |title=The Evolution of Joe Biden |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/07/28/biden-agenda |work=The New Yorker |date=July 28, 2014 |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Shortly after, Biden moved to Syracuse and attended [[law school]]. The couple married on August 27, 1966.<ref name="JBM6Y" /> After Biden graduated from law school, the Bidens moved to [[Wilmington, Delaware]], where Biden was on the [[New Castle County Council]]. The couple had three children: [[Beau Biden|Joseph Robinette "Beau"]], [[Hunter Biden|Robert Hunter]] and Naomi Christina "Amy".<ref>{{cite news |author1=Sarika Jagtiani |author2=Meredith Newman |author3=Andrew Sharp |date=September 25, 2019 |title=Hunter Biden: A brief bio of former Vice President Joe Biden's son |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/25/hunter-biden-dealings-ukraine-his-personal-life/2439165001/ |work=The News Journal |location=Wilmington, Del. |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> While Biden campaigned to unseat U.S. Senator from Delaware [[J. Caleb Boggs]], Neilia was described by ''The News Journal'' as the "brains" of his campaign.<ref name="JBM6Y" />

== Death ==
On December 18, 1972, shortly after Joe became U.S. senator-elect, Neilia was driving with her children west along rural Valley Road in [[Hockessin, Delaware]]. At the intersection with [[Delaware Route 7]] (Limestone Road), she pulled out in front of a [[tractor-trailer]] truck traveling north along Route 7. Police determined that Neilia drove into the path of the tractor-trailer, possibly because her head was turned and she did not see the oncoming truck.<ref name=biography>{{cite web|last=Ott|first=Tim|title=Joe Biden: The Heartbreaking Car Accident that Killed His Wife and Daughter|publisher=Biography.com|date=September 28, 2020|url=https://www.biography.com/news/joe-biden-first-wife-daughter-car-accident-story|access-date=October 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hamilton |first1=Carl |title=Daughter of man in '72 Biden crash seeks apology from widowed Senator |url=https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/local/daughter-of-man-in-72-biden-crash-seeks-apology-from-widowed-senator/article_6c9a477e-63be-561b-b771-1330b4cda02d.html|date=October 30, 2008 |website=Newark Post}}</ref> All four occupants were taken to [[Wilmington General Hospital]]. Neilia and Naomi were pronounced dead on arrival, but Beau and Hunter both survived with multiple serious injuries.<ref name=biography/><ref name="MJJBH">{{cite news |last1=McBride |first1=Jessica |title=How Did Joe Biden's First Wife, Neilia Hunter, Die? |url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/04/joe-biden-first-wife-die-death/ |work=Heavy.com |date=April 25, 2019 |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Macon |first1=Alexandra |title=Joe and Jill Biden's Love Story Will Pull at Your Heartstrings |date=November 17, 2016 |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/joe-jill-biden-love-story-pull-heartstrings |work=Vogue |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> Two weeks later, Joe was sworn into the Senate at the hospital where his sons were being treated.<ref name="JBM6Y" />

Neilia and Naomi are buried in [[St. Joseph on the Brandywine| St. Joseph on the Brandywine Cemetery]] in [[Greenville, Delaware]]. Joe's parents, [[Family of Joe Biden#Parents|Joe Sr. and Catherine]], were buried nearby in 2002 and 2010 respectively. In 2015, her older son [[Beau Biden|Beau]] was buried nearby.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

== Legacy ==
In a commencement speech at [[Yale University]] in 2015, Joe Biden, then serving as [[Vice President of the United States]] in the administration led by [[Barack Obama]], spoke of his wife, saying, "The incredible bond I have with my children is the gift I'm not sure I would have had, had I not been through what I went through [after the fatal accident]. But by focusing on my sons, I found my redemption."<ref>{{cite news |author=Lauren Holter |date=October 7, 2015 |title=What Happened To Joe Biden's First Wife, Neilia, And Daughter Naomi? It's A Heartbreaking Story |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/what-happened-to-joe-bidens-first-wife-neilia-daughter-naomi-its-a-heartbreaking-story-6911491 |work=Bustle |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>

A park in a suburban area of unincorporated [[New Castle County, Delaware]], outside the city of [[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]], Neilia Hunter Biden Park, is dedicated in her memory.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neilia Hunter Biden Park |url=https://foursquare.com/v/neilia-hunter-biden-park/4d5d705e9ac9a0931b6a7b94 |website=Foursquare City Guide |access-date=July 28, 2020}}</ref> [[Cayuga Community College]] in Auburn, New York, where Neilia's father ran the food service operation for many years, annually confers the Neilia Hunter Biden Award on two graduates, one for [[journalism]] and one for [[English literature]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Joe Biden Auburn met 48 years ago |url=https://auburnpub.com/news/local/ormie-king-the-joe-biden-auburn-met-48-years-ago/article_b714b01f-c806-5c6a-a46a-070ce87e1060.html |website=Auburn Pub |language=en |date=August 23, 2020 }}</ref> Among the early winners was [[William Fulton (urban planner)|William "Bill" Fulton]], who later served as mayor of [[Ventura, California]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

A memorial plaque was established in Bellevue Elementary School in honour Neilia's memory.<ref name="buffalonews"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103395259/neilia-biden Neilia Hunter Biden] at [[Find a Grave]]

{{Joe Biden}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biden, Neilia Hunter}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American educators]]
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Delaware]]
[[Category:Biden family]]
[[Category:Educators from Delaware]]
[[Category:Educators from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American women educators]]
[[Category:People from Skaneateles, New York]]
[[Category:People from Wilmington, Delaware]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in Delaware]]
[[Category:Spouses of Delaware politicians]]
[[Category:Syracuse City School District]]
[[Category:Syracuse University College of Arts and Sciences alumni]]

Neilia Hunter Biden - Revision history

Flying Bee: Created page with "{{Short description|First wife of President Joe Biden}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Neilia Hunter Biden | image =..."