Family, friends, faith leaders and elected officials gathered at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill Tuesday to say goodbye to former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff. She was remembered for her love of the city, and her grandmotherly, yet tough demeanor.
Sophie Masloff’s casket, draped with an American flag, was carried past mourners as the congregation sang “America the Beautiful.”
“Today is a day of awe-filled memory, today is a day of gratitude, and it is a day when we receive a charge for each one of us to live out her legacy,” said Rabbi Ron Symons, who led the memorial service.
Before Torah readings and eulogies, Symons read from letters sent by former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. Like many others, Symons remembered Masloff this way: “A down-to-Earth Jewish grandmother, mingling with presidents and popes, yet she was always Pittsburgh to the core.”
Masloff became mayor in 1988. She was City Council president when then-mayor Richard Caliguiri died in office. She finished his term and then ran and won a full four-year term. Masloff was the first, and only, female mayor of Pittsburgh. John Seidman was a longtime friend and advisor of Masloff. He said her rise to the city’s top seat was unlikely.
“A Jew and a woman in a Catholic town totally dominated by traditional men,” said Seidman, “she saw the excesses, she saw the misogyny, and she kept her mouth shut and she waited. She kept her opinions to herself until she arrived at a position where her opinions would matter.”
Tough-as-nails was a term thrown out several times in reference to Masloff. The former mayor’s attorney and longtime friend Frederick Frank said she achieved all of her dreams and will leave a lasting legacy.
“As we say farewell, it is easy to say, ‘We shall not see her like again,’" Frank said. "I would contend that is not true. Her example of dedication, integrity and selfless service to her city she deeply loved will be an inspiration to leaders for generations to come.”
Mayor Bill Peduto told the crowd of mourners that Masloff is the essence and fabric of Pittsburgh.
“Pittsburgh lost its grandmother, she was the grandmother to everyone, and we all felt that,” said Peduto.
Outside of the memorial service, friends, colleagues and admirers continued to remember Masloff.
“She was one of the greatest ladies I ever knew," said her physician Larry Adler. "I’ll never forget her, she was like another mother.”
Beyond motherly, or grandmotherly, others said she leaves behind a legacy of hope for women who want to hold office in Pennsylvania. Following the public memorial service, a private burial followed. A memorial honoring Masloff in the City-County Building will remain there all week, along with a guest book that people can sign. It will be given to her family.
