Bob O'Connor (mayor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob O'Connor
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| 58th Mayor of Pittsburgh | |
| In office January 3, 2006 – September 1, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Luke Ravenstahl |
| President of the Pittsburgh City Council | |
| In office January 6, 1998 – January 7, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Ferlo |
| Succeeded by | Gene Ricciardi |
| Member of the Pittsburgh City Council from the 5th District | |
| In office January 6, 1992 – February 10, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Coyne |
| Succeeded by | Doug Shields |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 9, 1944 Greenfield, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 2006 (aged 61) Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Judy Levine O'Connor |
| Children | 3, including Corey |
Robert E. O'Connor Jr. (born December 9, 1944 – died September 1, 2006) was an American politician. He served as the Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from January 3, 2006, until he passed away later that year.
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About Bob O'Connor's Early Life
Bob O'Connor grew up in the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. He later lived in Squirrel Hill for many years. In 1962, he graduated from Pittsburgh's Taylor Allderdice High School. He was even honored in their alumni hall of fame in 2011.
After high school, Bob worked briefly as a steelworker. He then moved into the restaurant business. He became an important leader at Pappan restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. Bob and his wife, Judy Levine O'Connor, had three children. Their daughter was Heidy Garth. Their sons were Terrence, who became a Catholic priest, and Corey. Corey later followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a Pittsburgh city councilman.
Bob O'Connor's Political Journey
Bob O'Connor's career in politics began in 1991. That year, he was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council. He worked on the council under two mayors, Sophie Masloff and Tom Murphy.
Bob O'Connor ran for mayor against Tom Murphy in 1997 and 2001. The 2001 election was very close. Both candidates spent a lot of money on their campaigns. Bob O'Connor lost that race by only 699 votes. He accepted the results a few days later.
In 1998, he was chosen to be the president of the city council. He left the city council in 2003. He then went to work for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.
Becoming Mayor of Pittsburgh
In 2005, Tom Murphy decided not to run for mayor again. This opened the door for Bob O'Connor. He was able to raise the most money for his campaign. He also received support from many groups. His dedicated "Delta Team" helped him greatly.
Bob O'Connor won the Democratic primary election on May 17. He beat other candidates like Bill Peduto and Michael Lamb. On November 8, he won the main election against Republican Joe Weinroth. Bob O'Connor officially became mayor on January 3, 2006.
His Time as "The People's Mayor"
During his time in office, and even after he passed away, Bob O'Connor was known as "The People's Mayor." He loved sports. He became mayor just before the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XL.
Even though his time as mayor was short, he started an important program. It was called the "Redd Up Pittsburgh" campaign. "Redd up" is a local term in Pittsburgh that means "to clean up" or "straighten up." This campaign focused on making the city cleaner. It also highlighted all the good things about Pittsburgh.
After his death, local volunteer groups continued his work. They hosted "Redd Up Pittsburgh" days in different neighborhoods. This honored his memory. In November 2006, his family received an award for his "Redd Up Pittsburgh" efforts. He was the first person to get this special award.
Bob O'Connor's Illness and Passing
Bob O'Connor had been mayor for only six months when he started feeling very tired. In July 2006, he had many tests. On July 10, 2006, doctors found out he had a rare brain cancer called primary central nervous system lymphoma. He immediately began strong treatments, including chemotherapy.
At first, doctors thought he would get better. However, he faced many problems, like seizures and infections. In August, his health got worse. Yarone Zober, who was the deputy mayor, took over as acting mayor. During his illness, thousands of black and gold rubber bracelets were sold. They said "Bob O'Connor...Everybody's Mayor." The money from these bracelets went to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Bob O'Connor passed away on September 1, 2006, at 8:55 pm EDT. He was 61 years old. He died at UPMC Shadyside Hospital. Luke Ravenstahl, who was the City Council President, became mayor after O'Connor's death. He was sworn in that same night.
Bob O'Connor's funeral was held on September 7, 2006. It took place at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His son Terrence, who was a Catholic priest, spoke at the funeral.
Election Results
Here are some of the election results for Bob O'Connor:
- 2001 Race for Pittsburgh Mayor (Democratic Primary)
- Tom Murphy (D), 48%
- Bob O'Connor (D), 47%
- 2005 Race for Pittsburgh Mayor
- Bob O'Connor (D), 67%
- Joseph Weinroth (R), 27%
