Congressman Joseph Matthew Gaydos, Sr.

Congressman Joseph Matthew Gaydos, Sr., 88, of Elizabeth Twp, died Saturday, February 7, 2015. He was born July 3, 1926 in Braddock and was the son of the late Joann (John) Gajdosh (Gaydos) and the late Helen (Elena) Megella Gaydos. He was the husband of the late Alice Ann Gray Gaydos who died March 19, 2001. Joseph served in the US Navy in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He attended Duquesne University and received his Bachelor of Law Degree at Notre Dame University Law School. He began his career as General Council to the United Mineworkers District 5. He was a Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General and was also Assistant Solicitor for Allegheny County. He became a State Senator for the 45th District and became the first Slovak American to serve in Congress. He represented the 20th Congressional District from 1968-1992 and served on the Printing Committee , Labor and Education Committee, House Administration Health and Safety Sub-committee. Congressman Gaydos was instrumental in drafting the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, (ERISA). This legislation helped to guarantee basic pension rights for workers. Throughout his political career, his primary legislative concerns were focused on the welfare of working people. He founded the Congressional Steel Caucus in the 1970's and was the first to recognize that "dumping" was a problem in the steel industry, and was also involved in many policies regarding Clean Air. He is survived by his son, Attorney Joseph M. (Lisa) Gaydos, Jr., of Elizabeth Twp, daughters, Kelly M. (Tony) Gaydos-Constantino of Greenock, Attorney Kathleen M. Gaydos of Grand Ledge, MI, Coleen Gaydos (Jeff) Tomcik of Venetia, and Tammy L. (William) Caye of Oakdale, sister, Mildred Barry of Kennerdale, grandchildren, Lauren, William, Robert "RJ", Joseph, III., Madison and Adam, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Gaydos and sisters, Ethel Gaydos, Margaret Cooper, Helen Murray, and Elsa Finn. Friends are welcome Tuesday, February 10 from 6-8:00 PM and Wednesday February 11 from 2-4 and 6-8:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 6028 Smithfield Street, Boston, Elizabeth Township. Service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Thursday, February 12, at 10:00 AM. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Good Shepherd Cemetery, Monroeville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nathan Arenson Fund for Cancer Research at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute c/o Dr. Olivera Finn, E1040 Biomedical Science Tower, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh PA 15261. Condolences may be made at gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.