Tributes for White House veteran who served 11 presidents
Wilson Jerman, who worked as a cleaner under Dwight Eisenhower, a butler for John F. Kennedy and a lift operator for Barack Obama, died with Covid-19.
Tributes from former first families rolled in in response to the news that a man who was a fixture in the White House under 11 presidents had died at the age of 91 after contracting Covid-19.
Wilson Jerman started working as a cleaner under President Dwight Eisenhower and retired as a lift operator during the presidency of Barack Obama.
“With his kindness and care, Wilson Jerman helped make the White House a home for decades of First Families, including ours,” said former first lady Michelle Obama.
“His service to others, his willingness to go above and beyond for the country he loved and all those whose lives he touched, is a legacy worthy of his generous spirit.”
Mr Jerman became a White House butler under President John Kennedy, a role that Mrs. Kennedy was instrumental in landing for him, his oldest granddaughter, Jamila Garrett, told the local Fox News station in Washington.
“Jerman served as a White House butler across 11 presidencies and made generations of first families feel at home, including ours,” tweeted Hillary Clinton.
“Our warmest condolences to his loved ones.”
Former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush said Mr Jerman was a “lovely man”.
Desiree Barnes, who worked in the Obama administration, said Mr Jerman treated the staff kindly.
She recalled that when she worked as an intern he would get her a meal if she had not eaten and that he even called her during a particularly rough snowstorm to make sure she was okay.
“It did not matter political party, he was there to serve,” Ms Barnes said.
“He had been there on some of the hardest days for a lot of presidents.
“So, he was a really empathetic man. He just was a great listener.”
