Friends and City Leaders React to the Passing of Former Congressman Jim Oberstar

DULUTH - Shock and devastation is the only way friends describe Jim Oberstar's passing."You just assume that Jim was gonna be a part of our lives, my family's life, for years to come and that we would have additional opportunities to talk about old times," said Duluth Mayor Don Ness.As Minnesota's longest serving US Representative, Oberstar was a miners son and grew up in Chisholm.The Congressman is thought of as an advocate for transportation, but to many he was much more than that."Jim was a great leader in our country, but more importantly he was an even better person and Jim loved people. He would walk into the room and just start hugging people," said Ness."He just knew everybody and he knew their family and their situation and it was just, it was really remarkable just to kind of see that kind of interaction that's so rare these days," said Daniel Fanning, Duluth's Communication Director who had worked with Oberstar.Duluth Mayor Don Ness started working for Oberstar right out of college as his campaign manager."Jim was always so kind and forgiving and always a mentor and a teacher and that just meant so much to me," said Ness.Not just Ness, but anyone who worked with him had high respect for the legend."He has always just been that guy you could turn to and I think everybody, no matter what side of the aisle you're on, had just a tremendous amount of respect for Jim," said Representative Erik Simonson."I recall last year Jim Oberstar walked onto the floor of the House as a former member and got a standing ovation. I've never seen anyone get an ovation just walking into the House of Representatives," said US Representative Rick Nolan.Representative Nolan and Oberstar were hill staffers together years ago in Washington, and he was one of his best friends.Nolan describes Oberstar as full of life and good health.He was with him just a couple days ago."I put my hand on his shoulder and I said to the other couple with us, 'you wanna grab ahold of a strong, healthy man's shoulder grab ahold of this shoulder. Jim does a thousand push–ups a day.' Jim kinda laughed and said 'no I only do a hundred,'" added Nolan.His humor, work ethic and advocacy for important issues make him a role model for many."Nobody worked harder than Jim Oberstar. No matter what time you got there in the morning, Jim Oberstar was already there. No matter how late you left the House of Representatives and the Congressional offices at night, Jim Oberstar's light was still on. Nobody worked harder than Jim Oberstar."