Orrin Hatch, who served Utah for more than four decades and became the longest-serving Republican senator in history, died Saturday, April 23, 2022, at age 88.

He passed at around 5:30 p.m., Hatch was surrounded by family in Salt Lake City, according to the Hatch Foundation.

“Senator Orrin G. Hatch personified the American Dream,” stated the executive director of the foundation, Matt Sandgren.

His death was confirmed in a press release from his foundation, which didn’t specify what caused it. He established the Hatch Foundation after stepping down in 2019, and Mitt Romney took over.

Orrin Hatch was born in Homestead Park, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 1934.

Hatch attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1959. In 1969, he moved to Utah.

Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Utah’s longest-serving senator and the former Senate president pro tempore, represented his home state of Utah for 42 years (1977 to 2019).

Hatch has worked with a long line of US Presidents, and he served under seven of them. He’s worked with nine Senate Majority Leaders. He also served as vice-chairman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee during his tenure in office.

He was a fiscal and social conservative on most issues, but he collaborated with the Democrats several times throughout his lengthy career, including on issues ranging from stem cell research to rights for persons with disabilities to increase children’s health insurance. In addition, he cultivated friendships on the other side of the aisle, notably with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

He also advanced Republican causes such as limiting abortions and helped shape the U.S. Supreme Court, including defending Clarence Thomas against sexual harassment claims during his confirmation hearings.

During his career, he also assisted in the passage of federal tax reform and lobbied for President Trump to reduce two Utah monuments as part of a call for political civility. He became an advocate for Trump.

He was also well-known for his second career as a vocal and recording artist of gospel music with themes dealing with his religious faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

His wife, Elaine, and their six children survive him. The Hatch Foundation announced that funeral arrangements will be made at a later date.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Twitter “Utah mourns with the Hatch family.”

“This breaks my heart. Abby and I are so grateful for the opportunities we had to spend time with this incredible public servant. He was always so kind and generous with his time and wisdom,” said Cox.