Pittsburgh Logo
File #: 2022-0434    Version: 1
Type: Proclamation Status: Adopted
File created: 6/3/2022 In control: City Council
On agenda: 6/21/2022 Final action: 6/21/2022
Enactment date: 6/21/2022 Enactment #: 307
Effective date: 6/21/2022    
Title: WHEREAS, Irreverent
Sponsors: Corey O'Connor, All Members
Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MR. O'CONNOR

title

WHEREAS, Irreverent….Irascible…Incomparable….

These are the adjectives used by the Post-Gazette to describe James “Jimmy” Ferlo, and by all accounts, his life and career can be defined by these very descriptive words ;and,

 

Body

WHEREAS, born in Rome, NY, the second youngest of 10 children, grandchild of Italian immigrants, Jim Ferlo understood progressive views as a teenager and moved to Pittsburgh at the age of 15 to live with his sister, Lyn and her husband, because, as Lyn stated, “Rome was too small for Jimmy” ; and,

 

WHEREAS, In spite of not finishing high school, but earning a GED, Jim had a sharp intellect and equally impressive vocabulary and was an expert on US and Pittsburgh history. He began his political advocacy career by first protesting the Vietnam War, by then working  at the Peace and Freedom Center of Pittsburgh and getting involved in the Civil Rights Movement while organizing unions and becoming a friend to the labor movement ;and,

 

WHEREAS, in the 1980’s, Jim Ferlo sought a City Council seat, and after two failed attempts, was elected to an At Large seat in 1987. When a city wide referendum divided Council into districts, Mr. Ferlo won the 7th Council District and held the seat for 15 years, during which time he was Council President from 1994-1998. In 2003, Jim won a seat representing the 38th State Senatorial District, which he served until his retirement in 2015. After he retired, Jim Ferlo worked passionately on ending the U.S. embargo of Cuba and promoted the relationship with Sister City, Matanzas, Cuba. He served on the Board of ACLU Pennsylvania and chaired the City’s 11th Ward Democratic Committee; and,

 

WHEREAS, Jim Ferlo died on 05-15-2022, of a heart attack, 4 days before his 71st birthday. He was predeceased by 4 siblings and survived by his sisters, Lyn, Carol and Patricia and brothers, Thomas and Leo. He is buried at Allegheny Cemetery, a place he knew and loved for its deep history.

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognizes the life of Jim Ferlo as being one of commitment, passion and dedication. He was a great leader and a visionary, a fiery orator and fierce advocate for the underdog, a servant of the people, an organizer, trailblazer, a change maker…and a friend. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh mourns his untimely loss and extends condolences to his family.