Omaha Mayor Dies of Cancer but With Dream Fulfilled
Mayor Bernie Simon, who once said that achieving the office fulfilled a lifetime dream, died today after a yearlong battle against cancer. He was 60.
Gov. Kay Orr called Simon “a man of peace and concord who loved being mayor. He loved serving the people, and in public service he gave the very essence of his nature, a spirit of unity which brought the people of Omaha together.”
Simon, a Democrat who was first elected to the City Council in 1981, became mayor on Feb. 3, 1987, after he was chosen by the council to fill out the 2 1/2 years left in the term of Mike Boyle, who was recalled from office in a special election.
But just two months after taking office, he was diagnosed as having an inoperable tumor in his lung.
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