# Edith Prague > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edith_Prague > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Edith_Prague.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Prague > Source revision: 1349612341 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Edith Gelt Prague** (November 23, 1925 – December 16, 2021) was an American politician from the state of [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut). A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), Prague represented District 19 in the [Connecticut State Senate](/source/Connecticut_State_Senate) from 1995 to 2013. Prague also served in the [Connecticut House of Representatives](/source/Connecticut_House_of_Representatives) from 1982 to 1990. She also served on the [Columbia, Connecticut](/source/Columbia,_Connecticut) school board from 1977 to 1982.[1] ## Early life and education Edith Gelt was born in [Methuen, Massachusetts](/source/Methuen,_Massachusetts), the daughter of Samuel D. Gelt and Sarah P. Gelt.[2] Both of her parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.[3] Her father died in 1933; she and her brother George worked in their family's grocery store to contribute to the family's income.[4][5] ## Career Prague, a Democrat, was a teacher and a medical social worker in her early career.[6] She was a member of the Columbia, Connecticut, school board from 1977 to 1982. She won a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1982, which she held until 1990. From 1995[7] to 2013, she was a member of the Connecticut State Senate; at the end of her final term, she was the oldest member of the state senate, and decided not to seek re-election.[8] She was the first head of Connecticut's Commission on Aging.[9][10] She was considered a "legend and a powerhouse",[11] and recognized as an advocate of careworkers and senior citizens.[8][12] ## Personal life Gelt married businessman Franklin E. Prague in 1946.[2] They had four daughters. Her husband died in 1994,[13] and she died in Columbia, Connecticut, in 2021, at the age of 96.[4] "Edith Prague was a state treasure," said her successor, [Cathy Osten](/source/Cathy_Osten). "The positive impact of the policies that Edith championed and passed into law will be felt in Connecticut for decades to come."[8] ## References 1. ["Edith Prague"](https://ballotpedia.org/Edith_Prague). *Ballotpedia*. Retrieved December 16, 2021. 1. ["Wed Recently"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-daily-globe-wed-recently/175074869/). *The Boston Daily Globe*. 1946-02-26. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. 1930 United States census, via Ancestry. 1. ["Edith Prague Obituary (2021) - Hartford, CT - Hartford Courant"](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/edith-prague-obituary?id=31903093). *Legacy.com*. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. ["George Gelt, at 89; owned golf course"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-george-gelt-at-89-own/175074950/). *The Boston Globe*. 2006-08-31. p. 117. Retrieved 2025-06-22. – via Newspapers.com. 1. Drelich, Kimberly (2021-12-17). ["Edith Prague, state senator and official, dies at 96"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-edith-prague-state-senator-and/175075643/). *The Day*. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-06-23. – via Newspapers.com. 1. Nagy, Barbara (1994-02-27). ["Edith Prague enters race for Senate, may force a primary with Przybysz"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-edith-prague-enters-race-for-sen/175075359/). *The Day*. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-06-22. – via Newspapers.com. 1. Pazniokas, Mark (2021-12-16). ["Edith Prague, lawmaker and commissioner, dies at 96"](http://ctmirror.org/2021/12/16/edith-prague-lawmaker-and-commissioner-dies-at-96/). *CT Mirror*. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. Shepard, M. (2021-12-23). ["Remembering Edith Prague, an Advocates' Advocate"](https://medicareadvocacy.org/remembering-edith-prague-an-advocates-advocate/). *Center for Medicare Advocacy*. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. ["Rep. Courtney Statement on the Passing of Edith Prague"](http://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-courtney-statement-passing-edith-prague). *Congressman Joe Courtney*. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. ["Statement of Denise Merrill on the Passing of Edith Prague"](https://portal.ct.gov/sots/press-releases/previous-years/2021-press-releases/statement-of-denise-merrill-on-the--passing-of-edith-prague). *CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website*. Retrieved 2025-06-22. 1. Haigh, Susan (1998-06-11). ["Edith Prague to seek third term in Senate"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-edith-prague-to-seek-third-term/175076449/). *The Day*. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-06-23. – via Newspapers.com. 1. ["Obituary for Franklin Prague"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-obituary-for-franklin-prague/175075166/). *The Day*. 1994-12-28. p. 16. Retrieved 2025-06-22. – via Newspapers.com. ## External links - [United States Senator Chris Murphy Honors Friend and Colleague Edith Prague on the Senate Floor](https://www.murphy.senate.gov/view/senator-murphy-honors-friend-and-colleague-edith-prague-on-the-senate-floor) (video) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Edith Prague](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Prague) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Prague?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.