and fostered its oral history program, including of presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as the Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project (released in 2015) and laid the groundwork for the Barack Obama Presidential Oral History Project. Earlier, the Miller Center in 2002 held a conference focusing on his governorship, which led to a 2003 documentary. Personal life Baliles married twice. He had two children, Laura and Jonathan, with his first wife, Jeannie Baliles. In his final years, Governor Baliles and his second wife, Robin, split their time between Charlottesville, Virginia and Patrick County. His son Jon Baliles continued the family's political tradition, winning election to the Richmond City Council (a part-time position) in 2012, and currently is the city's Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation. Death Baliles succumbed after a four-year battle with renal cell carcinoma and pulmonary fibrosis. He died in Charlottesville on October 29, 2019, while surrounded by his family. He was 79 years old. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that state flags would fly at half mast until November 28, 2019 to honor Baliles' service to the Commonwealth. References External links Miller Center of Public Affairs Washington Post article on Baliles and transportation Baliles named Director of the Miller Center A Guide to the Governor Gerald L. Baliles Executive Papers 1986–1990 |- |- |- 1940 births 2019 deaths 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American lawyers Deaths from cancer in Virginia Deaths from kidney cancer Democratic Party governors of Virginia Fishburne Military School alumni Democratic Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Miller Center Affiliates People from Stuart, Virginia University of Virginia people University of Virginia School of Law alumni Virginia Attorneys General Virginia lawyers Wesleyan University alumni