Mike Doyle: “I rise today to offer this resolution honoring the life and accomplishments of the late Robert E. O'Connor, Jr. Mr.…”

“I rise today to offer this resolution honoring the life and accomplishments of the late Robert E. O'Connor, Jr. Mr. Speaker, as you know, the city of Pittsburgh recently lost its mayor, Bob O'Connor, to a rare but deadly form of cancer. He checked into the hospital with what we all thought was flu in early July, and he passed away after a valiant fight against cancer on September 1. Mr. Speaker, every cancer death is a tragedy, of course. What makes this death so significant is the impact that it has had on the city of Pittsburgh. Bob O'Connor was a true son of Pittsburgh. He was born and raised there. He went to church there. He went to school there. He worked in the steel mills in his youth. He went on to great success as a businessman and entrepreneur. And, finally, more than 20 years ago, he began a distinguished career in public service. Now, a record of public service like his deserves recognition in its own right, but Bob O'Connor was not your typical public servant. He was an intelligent, outgoing, charismatic man, widely respected for his ability to bring people together and for his commitment to the city of Pittsburgh. Everybody knew Bob, and I daresay everybody loved him. Our community was excited and enthusiastic about the good things that he and his administration were going to do for the city. That is why his death has been such a blow to the citizens of Pittsburgh.…”