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. In 2018, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency wrote that "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 attended Bexley High School. 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. He joined the Army as a private and was initially stationed in Georgia, followed by duty at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
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.
Congress
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.
Defeat
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 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Columbus at the age of 84. He had been treated for depression at a psychiatric hospital shortly before his death.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Kampeas, Ron (August 8, 2018). "Remembering Bob Shamansky, the last Democrat to win Ohio's 12th District". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ Stone, Kurt F. (2000). The Congressional Minyan: The Jews of Capitol Hill. ISBN 9780881256598.
- ^ "The mysterious death of Bob Shamansky". Columbus Monthly. October 1, 2011. 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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