Chief Justice William Rehnquist 1924-2005

Shorewood High School senior William Rehnquist in the 1942 yearbook.





WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who quietly advanced the conservative ideology of the Supreme Court under his leadership, died Saturday evening. He was 80.

The justice, diagnosed with thyroid cancer, had a tracheotomy and received chemotherapy and radiation as part of his treatment.

Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Rehnquist had "continued to perform his duties on the Court until a precipitous decline in his health the last couple of days."

Then with his three children beside him, the justice died at his suburban Virginia home, a court spokeswoman said.

...President Bush learned of the death shortly before 11 p.m. ET Saturday, the White House said.

"The president and Mrs. Bush are deeply saddened by the passing of the chief justice," according to a written statement. It said Bush planned to make a statement Sunday morning.

Shorewood, Wisconsin's favorite son served as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States. Not bad for a suburban Milwaukee kid.
God rest his soul.