From Eleanor Roosevelt through Hillary Clinton, political wives have often found their own way into the spotlight.

That's wasn't the course, or the choice, for Margaret "Maggie" Awamura Inouye, wife of Hawai'i senior Sen. Dan K. Inouye, who died this week at 81 from complications of colon cancer.

Over the years Mrs. Inouye campaigned tirelessly for her husband and the values of the Democratic Party he represented. But with dignity and resolution, she kept herself out of the limelight.

While the senator's story is well-known, her story was less often told. But in its own way, it was also a remarkable story of achievement and accomplishment.

Coming out of Kalihi-Palama, Margaret made her way into the English-standard Roosevelt High School, to college and then on to Columbia University, where she earned a master of arts degree. By allowing nothing to stand in her way of achieving a quality education, she blazed a path that others have since followed.

She was recently honored by Roosevelt as one of its most distinguished alumni.

Mrs. Inouye went on to become a respected teacher at the University of Hawai'i Lab School. Sen. Inouye would later joke that whatever skills he has as a public speaker came through the patient mentoring of his wife.

Mrs. Inouye put her career on hold when her husband was elected to Washington and spent the following years supporting him as his duties and national reputation grew.

The Senator, and indeed all of Hawai'i, have lost a gracious and quiet leader.