Former Vermont state politician Willem Jewett, 58, dies after using medical suicide - a law he himself helped pass - after becoming terminally ill with melanoma over a year ago

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A former Vermont legislator and state House majority leader has died by medical suicide after he became terminally ill with melanoma over a year ago. 

William Jewett, 58, died at this Ripton, Vermont, home January 12 surrounded by his family, according to his wife, Ellen McKay.

The late legislator, who was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma, as a lawmaker pushed through changes to the original 2013 law that later made it easier for terminally ill people to get a prescription for suicide.

'It is very Willem fashion to still be pushing for legislation that he believed in and using his ability to advocate for people,' his daughter Abigail Jewett said Wednesday.  

Former Vermont legislator Willem Jewett, 58, passed away on January 12 with the help of medical suicide after he was diagnosed with a rare condition called mucosal melanoma over a year ago

Jewett is pictured chatting with his daughter Anneke, now 25, during the first day at the Legislature January 5, 2004, in Montpelier, VT 

In addition to his work as a lawmaker, Jewett was remembered for his energy, humor and intelligence as well as his passion for competitive cycling

Jewett, a lawyer and a competitive cyclist, served in the Vermont House from 2003 to 2016, where he was known for his energy, humor and intelligence - and for riding his bicycle more than 50 miles to the Statehouse for the annual Earth Day ride. 

The Democrat became assistant majority leader in 2011 and later majority leader.

'He lived life as if there wasn't a moment to spare,' House Speaker Shap Smith said. 'In the Legislature, he was great to work with, very smart and 'definitely had a feisty side.'

When the House gave final approval to the bill in 2013 after a day of debate in which members told stories of their own loved ones' deaths, Jewett, then majority leader, said: 'I've listened to all these stories, very personal stories, and I respect every single one of them.'

Under the legislation, he said, 'We all get to remain true to our guideposts at the end of our life.'  

Jewett was key in helping to organize a strategy on the bill, ensuring the House had the votes and then working with leadership to get support from senators, Smith said.

Along with others, 'his support was really critical,' said Betsy Walkerman, president of Patient Choices Vermont, a nonprofit organization. 'He´s very proud of this bill.' 

Walkerman spoke to him by phone January 7, five days before he died.

He 'just wanted to add his voice, which is incredibly powerful because he has this dual role as a legislator and a patient, a person near the end of life, who's making choices,' she said.

Jewett, who served as House of Representatives majority leader in 2013, is seen enjoying a laugh during a break at the Legislature on May 14 of that year

Jewett pictured with Shap Smith (left) as they share the 2016 Vermont Bar Association Service Award

Wilhelm was born in 1963 in Larchmont, New York, to parents Marianne van Hoorn and Joseph Jewett.

His family later relocated to Westport, Connecticut, where he attended and graduated in 1981 from Loomis-Chaffe School in Windsor, where he developed his interest in recreational activities such as cycling.

He later got his bachelor's in psychology from Bowdoin College in 1985 before going back to school for his law degree from Lewis & Clark. 

Jewett married his first wife, Jean Cherouny, in 1992 and built a home with her in Ripton where they raised their two daughters Abigail, 22 and Anneke, 25.

He joined the Conley & Foote Law Firm as an attorney in 1994 and remained until 2017 then started his own firm.

He also worked in public service as a member of the Ripton school board starting in 1998. That led him to run for the Vermont House of Representatives in 2002. 

Jewett defeated Representative Ward Mann and went on to represent the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, Hancock, Leicester, Ripton and Salisbury. 

He served as the House Majority Leader from 2013 to 2014 after holding his position of assistant prior to that.

Jewett with his wife, Ellen McKay Jewett. The pair married in June 2021

McKay Jewett confirmed that her husband passed away at their Ripton home on January 12

Jewett pictured with his mother ,Marianne Van Hoorn

During his time with the House Judiciary Committee, he used his platform to fight for causes such as same-sex marriage, helping Vermont become the first state to codify it in 2009. 

However, Jewett was fondly remembered by his colleagues for his winning personality that helped him maintain strong friendships during his work over the years.   

'Willem was a tall tree,' Representative Diane Lanpher told the Addison County Independent. 'And sometimes when we lose a tall tree among our talented forest, it’s particularly notable.'

'He always took care of his district, his county, and all of Vermont.'

Jewett pictured with his daughters Anneke and Abigail

Jewett with his daughter Anneke, now 25, at their Ripton home in 2017

Jewett served in the state's House of Representatives for 14 years where he briefly was majority leader before his retirement in 2016

Representative Amy Sheldon also told the outlet she remembered Jewett as 'a friend, neighbor and colleague, and he will be sorely missed.' 

'His willingness to share publicly his struggles with cancer, and now, even at the end, his thoughts on improving patient choices for others, demonstrate his deep commitment to making the world a better for all of us. 

Representative Peter Conlon, who represented Jewett's former Addison-2 district, said, 'I was fortunate to have Willem’s support when I first ran for his House seat, because from day one, folks in the towns he served told me I had big shoes to fill.'

'I heard the same from his colleagues in House. Willem was not just a well-respected legislator, people really liked him personally. 

Jewett retired from the Legislature in 2016 after serving in the state House for 14 years. 

However, he continued his work in law and started his own firm Mad River Valley Law with friend Jenn Blomback. 

He resumed cycling and competed with his teammates Jackalope Northeast Cycling and won many accolades for his efforts.

Jewett was initially diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008 after noticing a lump underneath his clavicle.

'I guess if I have a problem now on the energy level, it’s having too much,' Jewett told the Independent in 2008. 'Maybe (with chemotherapy) I’ll have the energy of only one person.'

He was later diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called mucosal melanoma.

Months before his death, he married Ellen McKay in June after meeting her four years prior.

Jewett passed away at the age of 58 with his friends and family close by 

During his final months, he rode 100 miles with his cycling team, brother and daughters in which they raised over $20,000 for cancer research with the Prouty fundraiser. 

He continued to work even after beginning the medical-aid-in-dying request process last month.

Prior to his death, he continued to use his political platform to advocate for changes in the assisted suicide law Act 39.

He ended his life on January 12 with his family close by as they shared his final moments.

'Forza' he said before taking the prescription to his wife, according to the VT Digger. 

'And he smiled, and he said ‘forza,’ she said. 'Which is what they yell at Italian bike races. It means go, go, go get ‘em, strength. Forza.'