[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MAYOR BOB O'CONNOR

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, today in sadness I acknowledge 
the passing of a fine man, a great Pennsylvanian, a life-long 
Pittsburgher, Robert E. O'Connor, Jr, mayor of Pittsburgh.
  Bob O'Connor loved Pittsburgh. He was born in Pittsburgh, graduated 
from the city's Taylor Allderdice High School in 1962, and lived, with 
his wife Judy, in Squirrel Hill for 41 years. Like so many Pittsburgh 
sons, Bob began his working life in the steel mills, where he worked 
for 5 years before moving on, entering the family restaurant business. 
After 29 years in the private sector, Bob decided to enter the public 
square, and was elected to Pittsburgh's City Council in 1991.
  In a testament to both his effectiveness as a city legislator and the 
professional manner in which he always conducted himself, Bob became 
City Council President 7 years after he first joined the Council. For 5 
years, he served Pittsburgh as its highest ranking legislative 
official, resigning only when Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell tapped 
Bob to serve, as the face of his administration in the southwestern 
Pennsylvania. Two years later, in November of 2005, Bob was elected the 
58th mayor of Pittsburgh.
  There was much he sought to do as mayor, much he had planned for our 
proud city. Tragically, he never got the chance. Merely 7 months after 
he took office, Bob O'Connor was diagnosed with brain cancer. He 
immediately began to undergo aggressive treatment, working to get 
healthy enough to return to serving his city. Sadly, his illness 
progressed, and on September 1, Mayor O'Connor passed away.
  Today, September 7, Mayor Bob O'Connor was laid to rest in 
Pittsburgh, the city he served for 15 years, the city he loved his 
whole life. I joined his family, his friends, and many others at his 
funeral service, paying our last respects to a man taken from us far 
too soon.
  Robert E. O'Connor, Jr., survived by his wife, Judy, and three 
children, will be sorely missed. May God bless the entire O'Connor 
family during this difficult time.

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