Democratic Berks County Senator Michael O’Pake died Monday morning at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center.
He was recovering from complications suffered during heart bypass surgery on Nov. 22. He was 70 years old.
Senator O’Pake was the longest serving member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. He was re-elected as Democratic Whip in the Senate for the 2011-2012 legislative term.
O’Pake represented the city of Reading and surrounding areas. He was elected to the General Assembly in 1968 and entered the Senate in 1972.
Some of O’Pake’s accomplishments include the writing of the Child Protective Services law in Pennsylvania to help child abuse victims. He also fought for legislation that helped provide property tax, rent rebates and prescription assistance for the elderly.
O’Pake’s final legislation in the 2009-2010 General Assembly established the Missing Endangered Person Advisory System, encouraging public involvement when Alzheimer victims and other vulnerable individuals are missing and need to be found.
The longtime politician was remembered by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey:
Politics
"Mike O'Pake was a dedicated public servant for Berks County and the Commonwealth. He was one of the longest serving and most effective members of the Pennsylvania State Senate. And he was a loyal friend of Governor Casey and me. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."
A funeral for the Senator has not been arranged at this time.
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