Bob Shamansky
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Bob Shamansky | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th district | |
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 | |
Preceded by | Samuel L. Devine |
Succeeded by | John Kasich |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Norton Shamansky April 18, 1927 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | August 11, 2011 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 84)
Resting place | New Agudas Achim Cemetery, Columbus |
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | Ohio State University Harvard Law School |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1950–1952 |
Unit | Counterintelligence Corps |
Robert Norton Shamansky (April 18, 1927 – August 11, 2011) was an American Democratic politician and attorney from the state of Ohio. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for a single term from 1981 until 1983. "Shamansky's life was marked by hardship, Jewish pride and tilting at windmills".[1]
Early life[]
Shamansky was born in 1927 in Columbus, the son of Sarah (Greenberg) and Harry Solomon Shamansky.[2] He was a 1947 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1950 graduate of Harvard Law School. He was subsequently admitted to the bar in 1950. He was also a Special Agent in the United States Army's Counter Intelligence Corps from 1950 until 1952.
Political career[]
In 1966, Shamansky ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he lost to Republican incumbent Samuel L. Devine.
Fourteen years later, in 1980, Shamansky challenged Devine again. This time, he was successful in unseating the long-time incumbent Devine, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district since 1939. He was also the first Democrat to represent a significant portion of the state capital, Columbus, since 1967.
As a member of the 97th Congress, Shamansky served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Science and Technology Committee.
In 1982, after reapportionment, Shamansky's district absorbed a large chunk of the more Republican-leaning 17th District. He was defeated in his bid for re-election by future Governor of Ohio John Kasich.
In 2006, Shamansky ran for his old congressional seat. However, the 12th had been significantly redrawn since he'd last served in Congress, and he lost to Kasich's successor, Pat Tiberi, by 14 points.
Death[]
On August 11, 2011, Shamansky died at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He was 84 years of age.[3][dead link][4][dead link] Shamansky shot himself at his Miranova residence on August 11 at the age of 84, an act that confounded his family and closest friends.[5]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Remembering Bob Shamansky, the last Democrat to win Ohio's 12th District". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
- ^ Stone, Kurt F. (2000). The Congressional Minyan: The Jews of Capitol Hill. ISBN 9780881256598.
- ^ "Robert Shamansky, former US Rep from Ohio, dies". WSYX. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011.
- ^ "Robert Shamansky, ex-congressman from Ohio, dies". Associated Press. August 15, 2011.
- ^ "The mysterious death of Bob Shamansky". Columbus Monthly. February 6, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
External links[]
- United States Congress. "Bob Shamansky (id: S000282)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Bob Shamansky at Find a Grave
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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- 1927 births
- 2011 suicides
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio
- United States Army personnel
- Ohio State University alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni
- Politicians from Columbus, Ohio
- Ohio Democrats
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century American politicians
- Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives
- Lawyers from Columbus, Ohio
- Suicides by firearm in Ohio
- American politicians who committed suicide
- John Kasich
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio