R.I.P Mayor O'Connor

There's nothing sadder than losing a loved one to cancer. Even worse is when that loved one is loved by a whole city and is mayor. Bob O'Connor is one of those people. It took him many elections before he finally gained the position of mayor in the city of Pittsburgh, but last year he did it and was sworn in this past January. The long reign of terror of Tom Murphy was at an end.

The city changed in those brief months he was in office. Anyone can say that they were proud of the city now, even though like many other places it has its nuisances. At the baseball All Star Game, Pittsburgh shown. It's sad that Bob was already in the hospital and couldn't see Pittsburgh at its best.

Bob O'Connor was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, primary central nervous system lymphoma, on July 10. Not even 2 months later he's gone, leaving his family and his extended family, Pittsburgh, with a huge void.

I'm not a Pittsburgher. My town of Charleroi On Mon is located about 25 miles south of the city, but everything that happens there ultimately affects me. This man was making a difference in the area. I only hope that the new mayor. Luke Ravensthal, can fit into the shoes that have been left for him. Luke is a mere 26 years old.

My heart goes out to Bob's family and to the city at this tragic time of loss.