Neilia Hunter

Neilia Hunter Biden (July 28, 1942 – December 18, 1972) was an American teacher and the first wife of Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States. She died in a car crash in 1972 with their one-year-old daughter, Naomi. Their two sons, Beau and Hunter, were critically injured but survived the incident. Her death occurred 6 weeks after her husband's election to the U.S. Senate. Early life and career Neilia Hunter was born on July 28, 1942, in Skaneateles, New York, to Louise (née Basel; 1916–1992) and Robert Hunter (1914–1990) who were Presbyterians. She attended Penn Hall, a secondary boarding school in Pennsylvania. She was active in the school's French club, field hockey, swimming and student council. After secondary school, she attended Syracuse University and was a school teacher in the Syracuse City School District. She was an English teacher at the Bellevue Academy in Syracuse, New York. She was related to former Auburn city councilman Robert Hunter. Marriage and family life Neilia Hunter met Joe Biden in Nassau, Bahamas, while they were both on spring break. Shortly after, Biden moved to Syracuse to be closer to her and attended law school. The couple married on August 27, 1966. 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: Joseph Robinette "Beau", Robert Hunter and Naomi Christina "Amy". While Biden campaigned to unseat U.S. Delaware Senator J. Caleb Boggs, Neilia was described by The News Journal as the "brains" of his campaign.