Dianne Feinstein died as she likely wished – in office. A luminary in American political life, the senator from California died on Thursday, September 28, at her home in Washington, hours after working with the Democratic caucus to reach a compromise with Republicans to avert a shutdown – the closure of federal government services – on October 1. The dean of Congress was 90 years old and had refused to resign, despite trying health and mental acuity problems, clouding half a century of public service marked by crises and tragedies.

The death in office of the 302^nd member of the Senate – since the establishment of the American republic – prompted a unanimous tribute from the political class. Flags were flown at half-mast at Congress. Republicans and Democrats alike praised a trailblazer in the advancement of women in politics. Born on June 22, 1933, "DiFi" (her nickname) had been the first female mayor of San Francisco (1978-1988) in California, the first to join the Senate Judiciary Committee (1993) and the first chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (2009-2015).

A few hours before her death, after a final vote shortly before 2 pm, she had received her former colleague Jane Harman, elected like her in 1992, known as 'the year of women' due to the number of women entering Congress. An emotional Harman showed what is probably the last photo of the California senator. She is seen standing, thinner, but with glasses in hand and adorned with her customary string of pearls: at work. On Friday morning, a bouquet of white roses was placed on her desk in the Senate. "We look at that desk and we know what we've lost," said Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the upper chamber, her colleague of 30 years. "Today, there are 25 women serving in this chamber," he said. "And every one of them would admit they stand on Dianne's shoulders."

A climb strewn with obstacles

Born Dianne Emiel Goldman, the senator was a true product of San Francisco. Her grandparents were Polish Jews on her father's side, and German and Russian Orthodox Jews on her maternal side. Her mother, Betty Rosenburg, was a former model and nurse. She had married surgeon Leon Goldman, the first Jew to teach at the University of San Francisco. Her mother suffered from neurological issues and terrorized her three daughters. Feinstein, the eldest, was once pursued by her mother wielding a kitchen knife. Years later, in 1962, she would herself marry a neurosurgeon, Bertram Feinstein, who was 20 years her senior.

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