Westbrook — Former state Sen. Eileen Daily was remembered Thursday as both an effective legislator and a dear friend who led the towns she represented to success during her 20 years in office.

Daily, a Democrat from Westbrook, served the 33rd District towns of Old Saybrook, Lyme, Portland, Westbrook, Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, East Haddam, Deep River, Colchester, Clinton and Chester from 1993 to 2013.

Daily, who had also been Westbrook's former first selectman and Board of Education member, retired from politics in 2012, citing a battle against cancer. She died on July 29 at the age of 72.

Daily was, in the words of Lyme First Selectman Ralph Eno, "small-town focused in a very large way."

"She came from where a lot of us are at the grass-roots level, so she understood what our interests were, and she was very good at representing those interests," Eno said. "She was very good as a state senator, and she rose to a level of prominence that benefitted all of our towns in the district."

Eno said he can't remember a time when he called her with a problem and she was not able to provide a satisfactory answer. He said she had a refreshing style of not "sugar-coating" issues, so people knew where they stood with her. Though they were on opposite sides of the aisle, he said they disagreed on very little.

"We enjoyed a large measure of success thanks to her representation up in Hartford," he added.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued a statement about Daily on Wednesday:

"For decades, she was a tenacious fighter for her constituents and a committee chair who wielded enormous respect among colleagues — and she did it with a smile on her face," Malloy said. "Eileen was one of the toughest elected officials in the state, yet her jovial disposition always made those around her feel at ease. She represented the best of public service and politics ... ."

Senate President Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, said in a statement that: "Her wisdom, internal strength and serenity made her an essential steward for her district and an indispensable leader in our caucus."

U.S. Rep Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, also mourned her passing.

"It is with deep sadness that eastern Connecticut lost Eileen Daily last night after she passed in hospice care," he said in a statement. "Respected by Republicans across the aisle, admired by her Democratic colleagues, and beloved by her constituents, Eileen ably served the residents along the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound for 20 years in the Connecticut State Senate. Eileen was tough, fair, and kind. She was a unique and distinguished public servant."

"I know that all of eastern Connecticut joins me in prayer and condolences for Eileen's husband Jim and her entire family for their loss. We will not soon forget," he added.

Former state Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, who served the 23rd District towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Westbrook and Old Saybrook, remembered that she and Daily worked together closely on three large projects: the early negotiations of what came to be known as The Preserve, the Town Woods complex shared by Lyme and Old Lyme, and renovations to Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

"Personally, we shared a warm friendship," Giuliano said. "I really found her to be extremely knowledgeable and down-to-earth, and blunt and direct when she needed to be. She really knew how to make business happen at the Capitol, and that's not a skill shared by every legislator."

Giuliano described her as an "easy person to be with" who also knew "how to get things rolling."

"I valued her input and her camaraderie," she said.

"Sen. Daily was a true champion for small towns and for the people of the 33rd Senate District," said State Senator Art Linares, Jr., who now represents the district. "She worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents, and her environmental advocacy will be a lasting legacy for our region and throughout Connecticut. She was personable and she knew the issues inside and out. Sen. Daily was respected by everyone at the State Capitol."

"Today, we honor Sen. Daily for her service and we remember her many accomplishments," Linares continued. "Her passing is a tremendous loss for Westbrook and for Connecticut. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sen. Daily's family and friends."

Shore Publishing contributed to this report.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich