James T. Kolbe ’65, a former U.S. Representative from Arizona, passed away on December 3, 2022 at the age of 80. Kolbe served in the House of Representatives for 22 years, from 1985 until his retirement in 2007, and was the second openly gay Republican in Congress.
Throughout his time in Washington and after he left Congress, Kolbe was known as a moderate and an advocate for bipartisanship. He was a strong proponent of free trade and played a role in the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the early 1990s. While Kolbe considered himself fiscally conservative, he also supported abortion rights, international development, and immigration reform.
In addition to his political career, Kolbe was a Navy veteran and had a wide circle of friends in Washington, including the late Arizona Senator John McCain.
“Jim Kolbe was a fine congressman and great friend to Northwestern University — and to me personally,” said Henry Bienen, former president of Northwestern. “Jim was a committed alumnus, a political science major. He was a thoughtful legislator. He was respected by both sides of the aisle and worked hard for Arizona. When he came out as a gay man, he fought for equal rights. Jim is missed by many.”
Learn more in Northwestern Now’s story, “Jim Kolbe, alumnus and former U.S. Congressman, dies at 80”