ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Revere City Councilor Robert J. Haas Jr. at a 2017 ribbon-cutting on Revere Beach.
By ROBERTO SCALESE
Robert J. Haas Jr., a legend of Revere politics, has died.
Haas was vacationing with his wife Juanita when he passed away this weekend, according to Revere City Councilor John Powers. He was 74.
“He was just all about Revere. He lived here all his life, graduated from Revere High School, ran a business here,” Powers said. “He will be sorely missed.”
Haas served as a city councilor from 1980 to 1992, when he was elected mayor of the city. During that time, Haas was instrumental in bringing several commercial developments into the city, including hotels like the Hampton and Comfort inns.
He served four terms as mayor before losing to Thomas Ambrosino in 1999, but it didn’t take long for Haas to return to public life. He was elected as an at-large City Councilor in 2003 and served on the body ever since.
“I started working in his office for a couple of years in his last term as mayor,” Powers said. “He was just a great guy. His first thought was always his family and the city of Revere. He’s made many, many contributions.”
Haas graduated from Revere High School in 1963. After serving in the military, he took a job at National Shawmut Bank of Boston while going to school at night. Haas earned a finance degree at Northeastern University.
Condolences from across the state came as news of Haas’s passing spread.
“Bob has been a mentor and a friend throughout my career,” Mayor Brian Arrigo said in a statement. “His counsel and support has meant the world to me. He was always willing to share his experiences and his wisdom, both in politics and in life.”
“I mourn the loss of Mayor Bob Haas,” Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo said in a statement. “I have fond memories of competing on the softball field against him and advocating for local concerns alongside him.”
“Councillor Haas was more than a former Mayor and current City Councillor—he was a neighbor and a friend,” Revere State Representative RoseLee Vincent said in a statement. “For decades, Bob served the people of the City of Revere and worked hard for the betterment of the community.”
Haas is survived by his wife Juanita, their three children Jennifer, Rachel and Robert, and several grandchildren.
You can contact Roberto at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BertoScalese.
