The following statement was issued on Sept. 1, 2006, by Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, D.C., and former bishop of Pittsburgh.

The death of Mayor Bob O’Connor is sad news for the city of Pittsburgh, for so many people across the area who knew and loved him, and for me personally. I offer my heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Judy, and his children, and my pledge of prayers that God will now grant him a place in his kingdom of eternal light and peace.

Over the years, it was my privilege to get to know Bob O’Connor long before he entered public life and eventually served as president of the city council and, finally, as mayor of Pittsburgh. In all of that time, I appreciated Bob as a man of integrity, compassion and as a Pittsburgher who truly loved the city and its people. We will all miss him. His legacy from his service in public life remains his ability to bring people together to see the best in everyone and to try to make Pittsburgh a better place.

May God grant him eternal rest.