Linda Nye Emmons, 77

The world is lessened by the loss of a great woman in Linda Nye Emmons, having passed away on May 15, 2015, at 7:40 a.m.

Linda was quick witted and thoughtful. She cared deeply about people and the problems of the world. She was notorious for prefacing her conversations with, "I've been thinking ... "

Linda Nye Pinkney was born to Helen Nye Pinkney and Francis Drake Pinkney in Patterson, N.J., in 1937. Helen was a descendent of the great Nye whaling family, dating back to 1680 out of Sandwich, Mass. Drake was a descendent of Richard Warren, one of the few to survive in America after crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower.

Linda was raised in Ridgewood, N.J., and graduated from Ridgewood High in 1955. She went on to study at Centenary in New Jersey.

Linda married Dick Emmons in 1958, and they gave birth to Mark Richard Emmons in August 1961 and Dwight Nye Emmons in September 1963. In 1964, The Emmonses moved to Madison, Conn. Linda went on to finish her Bachelor of Arts at Connecticut College in 1967 with a degree in business accounting. Linda ran her own accounting business (Emmons Accounting) until she retired.

Linda's greatest passion was politics. Linda got involved in politics at the local level in the town of Madison, Conn. She was a member of the Madison League of Women Voters, the Madison Republican Town Committee, the Madison Charter Commission, and member and Chair of the Madison Board of Finance (1972-1980). Linda ran for Connecticut State Legislator of district 101 in 1972. She went on to serve eight consecutive terms for a total of 16 years - from 1976 to 1992. When she retired, she was a ranking member of the Finance Committee in the Connecticut State Legislature.

Linda divorced in 1975 and later met the love of her life, Sen. Phil Costello. Phil and Linda will forever be remembered together until his passing in 2007.

Linda fell ill in November of 2012 and subsequently moved to Coeur d'Alene to be closer to her son and concentrate on her health. Linda lived the last two years in quiet comfort down the street from her son and daughter in law. Linda fought hard these past two months after falling and breaking her second hip. We wish Linda had stayed with us longer, but take solace that her struggle is over and she has now found peace. God bless her soul and may she rest in peace.