The Clinton family publicly mourned the loss of a former Clinton Foundation employee who died in the terrorist attack at Westgate Mall in Nairobi, just two weeks before she was due to give birth, the New York Daily News reported.
Elif Yavuz, 33, was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, Her husband, Ross Langdon, also died in the mall assault.
While speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, former President Bill Clinton recalled the Harvard graduate and malaria specialist as "incredibly gifted and good." He also said she was a "brilliant young mother-to-be who did everything she could to make the most of her life."
"This beautiful woman comes up to me, very pregnant. She was so pregnant that I assured her that I had been a Lamaze father and could be pressed into service at any moment," Clinton said.
"She and her baby's father, they went to Nairobi because they thought it was the safest, best place for her to give birth," he added.
Clinton mentioned he spoke with Yavuz's mother before delivering his speech to express his condolences.
"I was telling her how well I remember meeting her daughter," he said. "And she said, 'We decided we should name Elif's daughter. We are looking at the Swahili words for life and love."
Yavuz and Langdon were two of the 62 people that died in the attack in Kenya's capital.
The Clinton family also posted a message on Yavuz's death on the Clinton Foundation website, where they reflected on her work in the Health Access Initiative and vaccine research.
"We were shocked and terribly saddened to learn of the death of Elif Yavuz in the senseless attacks in Nairobi. Elif devoted her life to helping others, particularly people in developing countries suffering from malaria and HIV/AIDS. ... On behalf of the entire Clinton Foundation, we send our heartfelt condolences and prayers to Elif's family and her many friends throughout the world."
