Former Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette dies of pancreatic cancer at 62

The successful prosecution of mass murderer Jeffrey Lundgren brought LaTourette into the limelight in the 90s.

Former Ohio Congressman Steve LaTourette passed away on Wednesday (3 August) after a battle with pancreatic cancer, chief of staff Dino Disanto said. He was 62.

In a statement speaker of the Ohio house Clifford Rosenberger said, "It is with a heavy heart that I learned of the news that Congressman Steve LaTourette has passed away. His service to Ohio in the United States Congress, and in the way he led his life as a loving husband, father and grandfather, has set an example that will be revered and remembered for generations to come.

"I can attest that his kind and compassionate influence has been passed down to future generations from having the privilege to work closely alongside my friend and a member of our Republican leadership team, Rep. Sarah LaTourette. My sincere condolences go out to her and his entire family during their time of mourning."

Born in Cleveland in July 1954, LaTourette studied at Cleveland Heights High School, where he led petition drives to allow students to wear jeans and grow facial hair. After school, he joined the University of Michigan and later studied law at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.

He started his career as a public defender and in 1988 became Lake County prosecutor. However, LaTourette came into the limelight after the successful prosecution of mass murderer Jeffrey Lundgren – a self-proclaimed prophet – in early 90s.

My heart is heavy hearing of the passing of my colleague, frmr Rep. Steve LaTourette. My prayers are with his family & the Ohio community.
— Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) August 4, 2016

He subsequently won a House of Representatives seat in the 1994. He served the 19th district of Ohio from 1995 to 2003 and later became the representative for Ohio's 14th congressional district from 2003 to 2013.

However, in 2012 he announced that he would not be running for re-election citing partisan politics as the reason for his departure. In mid-2014 he learned about his disease and in 2015, he filed a lawsuit against doctors claiming they failed to pass along vital information about a lesion in his pancreas and the need for follow-up monitoring.

LaTourette is survived by his second wife, Jennifer, and six children.