Sophie Masloff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophie Masloff
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 56th Mayor of Pittsburgh | |
| In office May 6, 1988 – January 3, 1994 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Caliguiri |
| Succeeded by | Tom Murphy |
| President of the Pittsburgh City Council | |
| In office January 4, 1988 – May 6, 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Ben Woods |
| Succeeded by | Ben Woods (Acting) |
| Member of the Pittsburgh City Council | |
| In office April 27, 1976 – May 6, 1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Amy Ballinger |
| Succeeded by | Duane Darkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sophie Friedman
December 23, 1917 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, 2014 (aged 96) Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Jack Masloff m. 1939–1991 (his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| a.As the Council's President Pro Tempore, Woods declared himself Acting Council President following Masloff's ascension to the office of Mayor. | |
Sophie Masloff (born Sophie Friedman; December 23, 1917 – August 17, 2014) was an important American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Sophie Masloff served on the Pittsburgh City Council. Later, she became the mayor of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 1994. She was the first woman and the first Jewish person to be the mayor of Pittsburgh.
Contents
Early Life and First Job
Sophie Friedman was born on December 23, 1917. Her parents, Jennie and Louis Friedman, were Jewish immigrants from Romania. They lived in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sophie's father, who sold insurance, passed away when she was only two years old. She had two older sisters and a brother from her mother's first marriage.
When she was very young, Sophie only spoke Yiddish. She learned English when she started elementary school. She finished high school at Fifth Avenue High School in 1935. In 1938, she began working as a clerk in a court office in Allegheny County. She worked there for 38 years.
Political Career
Joining the City Council
Sophie Masloff was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council in 1976. The City Council helps make decisions for the city. She was one of only two women on the council at that time.
In January 1988, Masloff was chosen to be the president of the city council. Just four months later, the mayor, Richard Caliguiri, sadly passed away. According to the city's rules, the president of the city council automatically became the new mayor. So, Sophie Masloff became mayor of Pittsburgh.
Becoming Pittsburgh's Mayor
Sophie Masloff finished the rest of Mayor Caliguiri's term. Then, she ran for a full term as mayor in November 1989 and won easily. She was the first woman and the first Jewish person to hold this important job in Pittsburgh. She was known for sometimes mixing up words in a funny way. For example, she once called the famous rock band The Who "The How."
As mayor, Masloff faced many challenges.
- The city had problems like old buildings and fewer factories. Roads and bridges also needed repairs.
- She had a great idea for Pittsburgh's sports teams. She suggested that the baseball and football teams should each have their own stadiums. Years after she left office, her idea came true. This led to the building of PNC Park for baseball and Heinz Field for football.
- Mayor Masloff focused on being smart with the city's money. During her time, she helped make some city places run by private groups instead of the city government. These places included the Pittsburgh Zoo, the National Aviary, and Phipps Conservatory.
Retirement and Achievements
Sophie Masloff decided not to run for a second full term in 1993. She retired in 1994 and went back to her home in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Even after retiring as mayor, she stayed involved in politics.
- In 1996, she was a Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania. This means she helped formally elect the President.
- She was also a delegate for Pennsylvania at the Democratic National Convention in 2000 and 2004. This is a big meeting where the Democratic Party chooses its presidential candidate.
- She even appeared in commercials for local businesses like Bruegger's and Schneider's Dairy.
In 2007, a street near PNC Park was named Sophie Masloff Way to honor her on her 90th birthday. In 2011, a seal at the Pittsburgh Zoo was named after her. Sophie Masloff passed away on August 17, 2014, at the age of 96.
In 2017, a new fireboat for Pittsburgh's fire department was also named in her honor.
