Mary Rose Oakar

Mary Rose Oakar
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 13th district
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2002
Preceded byBarbara C. Pringle
Succeeded byMichael J. Skindell
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1989[a]
LeaderTip O'Neill
Jim Wright
Preceded byGeraldine Ferraro (Secretary)
Succeeded bySteny Hoyer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 20th district
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byJames V. Stanton
Succeeded byMartin Hoke (redistricted)
Personal details
Born(1940-03-05)March 5, 1940
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedSeptember 13, 2025(2025-09-13) (aged 85)
Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUrsuline College (BA)
John Carroll University (MA)

Mary Rose Oakar (March 5, 1940 – September 13, 2025) was an American Democratic politician. She was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1977 to 1993. Oakar was the first Arab American woman, first Syrian American, and first Lebanese American woman to serve in Congress.[1]

From 1985 to 1989, she was elected to a position in the House Democratic leadership, as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus.[2]

Oakar died in Lakewood, Ohio on September 13, 2025, at the age of 85.[3][4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus until January 3, 1987

References

  1. ↑ "Mary Rose Oakar: Representative, 1977–1993, Democrat from Ohio". Women In Congress. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Women Elected to Party Leadership Positions". Women in Congress. U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
  3. ↑ Eaton, Sabrina (September 14, 2025). "Mary Rose Oakar, pioneering Ohio congresswoman, dies at 85". Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ Morita, Maya (September 7, 2025). "Former Congresswoman, Cleveland native Mary Rose Oakar, dies at 85". News 5 Cleveland. Scripps Media, Inc. Retrieved September 14, 2025.

Other websites

Media related to Mary Rose Oakar at Wikimedia Commons


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