NewsNational News

Actions

Restaurant owner dies after Obama visit in Ohio

Posted at 12:46 AM, Jul 07, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-07 00:46:19-04

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) - A woman died Friday morning just hours after President Barack Obama had breakfast at her restaurant, WJW-TV reports.

Josephine “Ann” Harris, 70, was rushed to Akron General Medical Center at around 11 a.m., where she died a short time later, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.

Officials did not immediately release a cause of death, although family members told WJW-TV they believed Harris had died of a heart attack. In fact, she had been recovering from a recent heart attack, but did not want to miss a chance to meet the president, loved ones said.

It was a tragic end to a day that started out so well for Harris when President Obama entered her South Hawkins Avenue restaurant, Ann’s Place, at around 8:30 a.m. and started to joke with her customers.

Obama reportedly ordered eggs, bacon and toast, and shook hands with restaurant patrons before sitting down to talk with three Goodyear workers about steps he had taken to protect American workers from unfair trade practices.

The visit came on the second day of his “Betting on America” bus tour. Obama later traveled to Boardman and Poland, Ohio, before heading to Pennsylvania.

Click here to ready more from WJW-TV and find out what the White House had to say about Ann Harris' passing.