Representative Gerry Connolly in 2022.Getty Images

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), whose grandmother was an Irish immigrant, died on Wednesday, May 21, his family has confirmed in a statement.

75-year-old Connolly "passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family," the statement, shared on Connolly's social media accounts this morning, said.

Connolly, a Democrat, was the incumbent Representative for Virginia's 11th congressional district, a role he had held since 2009.

On November 7, less than a week after his re-election, Connolly confirmed in an open letter to his constituents that he had cancer of the esophagus and that he was going to "undergo chemotherapy and immunotherapy right away."

He said in the open letter: "I will attack this the only way I know how – with Irish fight and humor."

A month after the announcement, the House Democratic Caucus elected him Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on December 17.

However, on April 28, Connolly announced that his cancer had returned after being "initially beaten back." He said that this would be his last term in Congress and that he would be stepping back as Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee.

Rep Stephen Lynch (D-MA) has been serving as the interim Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee since Connolly went on leave last month.

Connolly regularly touted his Irish roots throughout his political career - he sat on the Friends of Ireland Caucus and was involved with Irish American Democrats.

“My Irish immigrant grandmother survived the boat journey to America, even being robbed on the ship," he said at a 2017 event. 

"She worked hard. She saved. She was able to bring her own mother and her brothers over from Ireland."

In 2011, Connolly introduced the "Irish-American Recognition and Respect Act" to make every March 17, St. Patrick's Day, a federal holiday. 

In the House of Representatives, he put his name to a number of resolutions in support of Ireland, including recognizing the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the US and Ireland, reaffirming support for the Good Friday Agreement, and supporting the goals and objectives of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

In March, among what would be one of his final acts in Congress, Connolly co-sponsored a House resolution seeking to form a Commission to Study the Creation of a National Museum of Irish American History.

Also this past March, he hosted his 31st annual St. Patrick's Day Fête in Virginia.

"Since my first run for Providence District Supervisor in 1995, I have hosted an annual St. Patrick’s Day Fête," Connolly said, announcing this year's event.

"The event has grown from a small gathering of friends at my home to one of the highlights of the Democratic political season. This year’s fête will include a full Irish dinner, drinks, live music, and a straw poll for the upcoming statewide races in Virginia this year."

At his 2015 event, Connolly met a couple who were there on their fourth date; the following year, he married the couple, describing himself as an "Irish Yenta."