Former Labor senator and influential political commentator Graham Richardson has died aged 76 after fulfilling a final promise to his teenage son.
Richardson fell ill with the flu in September, which developed into pneumonia. He passed away around 3:50 am on Saturday.
Before his death, Richardson told his wife Amanda that he intended to live until their son D'Arcy completed his HSC exams. D'Arcy finished his last French exam on Thursday.
"D'Arcy and Amanda have asked me to share the news with everyone that, sadly, Richo has passed away in the early hours of this morning," said 2GB radio host Ben Fordham.
"In the past few weeks, he's had a bout of influenza and then pneumonia; he also had a little stint on dialysis, trying to clean up his blood a little bit."
Graham Richardson and his wife Amanda at a movie premiere in November 2015 (family photo).
Richardson's legacy as a Labor powerbroker and political commentator is widely remembered.
Author's summary: Graham Richardson, a leading Labor figure and commentator, died at 76 after battling illness, honoring his promise to live until his son completed important exams.
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