Lantos remembered

— Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Our nation has lost a great public servant with the passing of Representative Tom Lantos. In serving his constituents and his country, Tom never forgot the Democratic Party’s ideals of freedom, fairness, and opportunity for all. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he was an authority on foreign policy issues and a voice for the oppressed. The only Holocaust survivor in Congress, he was a forceful and passionate advocate for civil liberties and human rights. Today, I join with countless others across the country in offering my thoughts and prayers to Rep. Lantos’ family and friends as we honor his life and legacy.”

— Democratic National

Committee Chairman Howard Dean

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman Tom Lantos. We have lost one of our finest champions for working families, human rights, national security, and the environment. When looking for hope and inspiration, we need not look any further than the life of Congressman Lantos who survived the Holocaust, fought genocide in Darfur and courageously battled cancer. I extend my deepest condolences to Tom’s wife Annette and their family.”

— State Sen. Leland Yee,

D-San Francisco/San Mateo

"Congressman Tom Lantos was an inspiration to anyone who ever dreamed of a better life, strove to overcome adversity or refused to quit against overwhelming odds.

Congressman Lantos’ tireless and passionate work for human rights around the globe is legendary. No one was more articulate, persuasive or tenacious in fighting for common people, and no adversary was too large for Tom.”

— Former state Sen. Jackie Speier

"Tom Lantos’ journey from the horror of a Nazi concentration camp to the honor of serving in the United States Congress is one of our nation’s greatest stories. His service was always grounded in his experience. His commitment to others was based on a commitment that he and those who survived the Holocaust made to one another — Never again would good people be allowed the comfort of silence in face of injustice, hatred and the atrocities they breed. As mayor of Millbrae, I speak for all of us as we say to his loved ones that we will always be proud that it was our community that first elected Tom Lantos when he begin his public life. From our school board to Congress he kept faith with us and we with him. God speed and God bless.”

— Millbrae Mayor Gina Papan

"We have been very fortunate to have been represented by a legislative giant like Tom Lantos. His compelling life story has been an inspiration to us all. My thoughts and prayers go out to Annette and the entire Lantos family.”

— State Assemblyman Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco

"Tom Lantos was an inspiration to my family. Tom was courageous world leader for the cause of human rights and a fighter for justice for working families. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a great American. Our prayers are with Annette and the Lantos family.”

— Richard Holober, president of the San Mateo County Community College Board

"Congressman Tom Lantos career modeled the ideals of the public service. He brought great humanity to the halls of Congress, fighting for human rights and standing against anti-Semitism, bigotry and Holocaust denial. He was a friend of the Jewish community and a tireless advocate for the state of Israel. Our deepest sympathies go out to his daughters, his grandchildren and his wife Annette who shared his passion for justice and human rights born out of their experience as survivors of the Holocaust. We will miss his eloquent voice and leadership greatly.”

— Rabbi Doug Kahn, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda and Contra Contra counties.

"He had a remarkable life story as the only survivor in the United States Congress. His experience during the Holocaust and as a survivor deeply sensitized him to the ongoing need for human rights. He championed human rights for all people and had an international impact.”

— Leslie Kane, executive director of the Holocaust Center of Northern California.