On July 10th, Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor entered the hospital to be treated for flu-like symptoms and an intestinal ulcer. Days later, the city of Pittsburgh was stunned to learn that he suffered from a rare from of cancer -
primary central nervous system lymphoma.
He had begun receiving chemo treatments, the first of 3, and started physical therapy. He even continued to run the city from his hospital bed, before relenquishing most of his responsibilities to long time friend Dick Skrinjar.
A member of Pittsburgh's city council, O'Connor defeated the corrupt and crooked Tom Murphy, a fellow Democrat, who had turned Pittsburgh's renaissance into a nightmare of debt and gross mismanagement.
He endeared himself to Pittsburghers with his "everyman" attitude, standing on street corners following his victory and holding a sign thanking voters for supporting him. When the Steelers won the Super Bowl in February, O'Connor was out in the streets celebrating with the thousands of people who poured out of bars, businesses, apartments and college campuses to celebrate. His early success as mayor helped restore faith in the mayor's office and he quickly began to undue the twelve years of incompetence left behind by Murphy. In Bob O'Connor, Pittsburghers see someone like them.
Unfortunately, late last night, the Post-Gazette reported that his condition had been downgraded from day-to-day to hour-by-hour.
Not since former Mayor Richard Caligiuri has Pittsburgh had such a beloved mayor. Sadly, like Caligiuri, who was known for his effectiveness and compassion, O'Connor seems to have little chance to recover from a rare disease that likely will claim his life. Caligiuri died in 1988 - in office - from amyloidosis.
Bob O'Connor is a good man. He's helped restore faith in Pittsburgh's government and begun moving the city beyond Murphy's nightmare.
Tonight, if you have a moment, please take a minute and leave some thoughts, or prayers, for our beloved mayor and his family. Thank you.
Pittsburgh loves you, Bob!