Ronnie De Pasco

State Senator Ronnie De Pasco, 60, died at his home Saturday, May 24, 2003, with his family at his side, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. Services will be at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 2552 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 29. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday, May 28, from 4-9 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. The Rosary will be said at 8:30 p.m. Ronnie was a grass roots politician who maintained multiple district offices to provide service to his constituents, asked their opinions on issues and kept them informed of legislative progress. He graduated from Northeast High School and attended Maple Woods Community College. He worked at Armco Steel and later became owner of his family's business, De Pasco's Tavern, which his grandfather began in 1934. In 1976 he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives serving as an influential and able force, and was elected in 1992 to the Missouri Senate. Ronnie was an extremely popular and effective public servant who worked on many bills but was most proud of his roll in passing legislation to fund the Bartle Hall Expansion, the Kansas City Museum, Liberty Memorial and legislation on behalf of the Kansas City MO Police department. He also served as Senate Majority Floor Leader from 1998 to 2000. He was president and founder of the Allied Democrat Association, a political club active in the Northeast/East areas. He was the recipient of many civic awards including the 1993 MO Columbian of the year, Senator of the Year in 1995 by the MO Deputy Sheriff's Assn., in 1996 by the MO Chamber of Commerce, in 1999 by the MO Trial Attorneys Association, was named the 1997 Outstanding Senator of the Year by the MO Police Chief's Assn, was honored by the Board of Police Commissioners in May 2003 for 27 years of dedicated service to the KCMO Police Department, and will be further honored in June by the renaming of Cliff Drive to Senator Ronnie De Pasco Byway in recognition of his long efforts to improve the park. Ronnie was honored by his colleagues during the veto session in September 2002 with the Wise Old Owl Award, a bipartisan award given to a Senator who is most respected for his position on issues. He loved his work in the legislature, worked well with both sides of the aisle to overcome opposing views and resolve issues, and became one of the most well-respected people in Jefferson City and Kansas City. Ronnie belonged to many organizations including The Knights of Columbus, Moose and Eagle clubs, Sons of Columbus and National Association of State Legislators. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Kansas City Hospice, 1625 W. 92nd St., K.C., MO 64114, the Bishop Sullivan Center, 6435 Truman Road, K.C., MO 64126, or the Gail P Ramos Lung Cancer Center Foundation, 4160 Suisun Valley Road, Ste E-315, Fairfield CA 94534. Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Nick De Pasco, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Martha; his daughters, Carrie Hinojosa and her husband, Jaime, Kelly De Pasco and Kacie De Pasco; grandchildren, Ryan, Lauren, Alec and Julia; sisters, Linda Hess and her husband, Jim, Marilyn Daffer and her husband, Bob; aunt and uncle, Verlee and Del Harbaugh; loving nieces and nephews and so many, many friends. (Arrangements: Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, (816) 471-2844)