The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) extends its deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Sargent Shriver, 95, a distinguished public servant who passed away on Tuesday. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2003.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Shriver was the first director of the Peace Corps, led President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, and helped his wife, Eunice Kennedy, create the Special Olympics for mentally disabled children and adults.

In a statement, AFA’s president and CEO, Eric J. Hall, said, in part, “The public acknowledgement of his illness served and will continue to serve a significant purpose: shedding light on the disease and helping all of us advocate for more attention to be paid to its impact on American families and society.”

“We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Shriver family and especially to Mr. Shriver’s daughter, journalist and former First Lady of California Maria Shriver, who has courageously brought her father’s story and the story of so many other Americans with Alzheimer’s disease to the public eye. Her passion for the cause will serve as an ongoing tribute to her father.”