Mayor Bob O'Connor remembered as 'truly a Pittsburgher'

Bob Bauder
Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 2:24 p.m. | Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016 2:24 p.m.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Family members of the late Mayor Bob O’Connor (from left), his daughter Heidy O’Connor-Garth and her husband, Rich Garth; O’Connor’s wife, Judy; O’Connor’s son, city Councilman Corey O’Connor and his wife Katie, bow their heads as the former mayor’s son, the Rev. Terry O’Connor, leads the crowd in a prayer as they commemorate the 10th anniversary of O'Connor's passing with members of the public, city officials and members of the late mayor's former staff outside the City-County Building, Downtown, on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's daughter Hiedy O'Connor-Garth, center right, of Swissvale, stands for a portrait with her daughters and O'Connor's granddaughters Kennedy, left, 21, Delaney, center left, 17 and McKenzie, right, 19, as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of O'Connor's passing with the public and his former staff outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's wife, Judy, throws confetti in the air as she speaks about celebrating her late husband's legacy to those gathered to honor Bob O'Connor Day outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Al Vento, 88, of Whitehall, places his hand to his cheek as he listens during a 'Tribute to Mayor Bob O'Connor' ceremony outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. 'We couldn't help a nicer guy to get into politics,' said Vento, who was a helping hand in O'Connor's start into city politics.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's son, Councilman Corey O’Connor, is supported by his wife, Katie, right, as he speaks about his father's legacy as they celebrate Bob O'Connor Day outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. The event ended with O'Connor's signature cookies, coffee, and the swapping of stories.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's granddaughters stands for a portrait with her daughters and O'Connor's granddaughters McKenzie, left, 19, Kennedy, center, 21, Delaney, and McKenzie, right, 19, wipe away tears as they listen to their family talk about their grandfather's legacy during Bob O'Connor Day outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Former Pittsburgh mayor Thomas J. Murphy listens at a tribute to late mayor Bob O'Connor outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Murphy was mayor of the city from January 1994 to January 2006.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Juanita Hines, 73, of Homestead, holds up a sign given to those in attendance to honor Bob O'Connor Day outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. 'He was a wonderful person,' said Hines, who works at the City-County Building. 'Wonderful man, he was.'

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto shares his memories of the late Mayor Bob O'Connor with a crowd gathered to celebrate O'Connor's legacy on the10th anniversary of his death outside of the City-County Building, Downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Peduto shared a story on waking up to O'Connor filming a commercial outside his house.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Former Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl listens at a tribute to late mayor Bob O'Connor outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. Ravenstahl was mayor of the city from 2006 to 2014.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's son Father Terry O'Connor speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate his father's legacy on the tenth anniversary of his death outside of the City-County Building downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

The late Mayor Bob O'Connor's son Father Terry O'Connor leads the crowd in prayer as they gather to celebrate his father's legacy on the 10th anniversary of his death outside of the City-County Building Downtown on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.

Stephanie Strasburg | Tribune-Review

Mary Beth Brannon, 58, of Mt. Lebanon, wears a T-shirt from Bob O'Connor's mayoral campaign as people gather to commemorate the 10th anniversary of O'Connor's passing with members of the public and his former staff outside of the City-County Building, Downtown, on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016. O'Connor was Brannon's boss at Roy Rogers in Green Tree when she was a teenager and she helped him with his subsequent campaigns for office. 'I always admired him,' said Brannon.

Pittsburgh remembered Mayor Bob O'Connor on Thursday with jokes, laughter and a few tears on the 10th anniversary of the mayor's death.

More than 200 people, including O'Connor's family, close friends and two former mayors, gathered in front of the City-County Building, Downtown, to share memories.

They said the affable O'Connor loved Pittsburgh and Pittsburghers loved him.

"I see him in every bridge and every neighborhood because he was truly a Pittsburgher in life," his son, City Councilman Corey O'Connor, said. "Please be as optimistic about our city and our future as he was."

O'Connor died on Sept. 1, 2006, of brain cancer, eight months after being inaugurated in front of the City-County Building.

The event, "A Tribute to Bob O'Connor," was meant to be a celebration, but it had moments of sadness.

It began with the playing of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" over chimes at the nearby Allegheny County Courthouse, followed by bagpipers from the Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band playing "God Bless America."

O'Connor's widow, Judy, wiped away tears recalling how much her husband liked the city.

"He would probably say, 'Here we are. I brought people together again.' Bob was all about bringing people together," she said, thanking the city for "helping us through everything."

Robert Jablonowski of Greenfield, a close friend, said O'Connor never changed, even after ascending to the city's highest office, they said.

"He was an average guy," he said. "He became the mayor of Pittsburgh and he had that same personality as he did when he was a steelworker."

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