The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Board of Directors, staff, and our entire ADC family extend our heartfelt condolences on the passing of former ADC President and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, who passed away in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
In a statement issued by the Oakar family, Mary Rose is remembered not only as a political trailblazer but also as a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Her compassion, integrity and unwavering commitment to justice left an indelible mark on Cleveland, Ohio, and the nation. She was a lifelong supporter of people and believed that with faith and perseverance you can do anything you set your mind to.
Born and raised in Cleveland, Congresswoman Oakar entered public life with deep grassroots connections—as a teacher, a Cleveland City Council member, and an influential figure in the local Democratic Party. Her 1976 campaign for Congress was a testament to her ingenuity and personal connection to voters: traveling through neighborhoods in a rose-decorated convertible and giving away signature rose pens at community gatherings, she built support one handshake at a time.
Elected to eight successive terms from 1977 to 1993, she remained intimately connected to her district, serving as a powerful spokesperson for women, children, and the elderly. In Congress, she championed women’s economic equality—including pay equity—and was recognized for her advocacy on health care and urban renewal. She masterfully elevated Cleveland’s needs through key committee roles, including the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, and the House Administration Committee, successfully delivering significant federal support for urban projects.
Congresswoman Oakar was a trailblazer on women’s issues, and among the earliest and most persistent voices in Congress for breast cancer research and women’s health. At a time when little federal funding was directed toward breast cancer, she pressed the issue relentlessly until Congress approved historic new funding in the early 1990s—more than $400 million, nearly triple the previous year’s budget. She also helped pass new standards for mammography, ensuring quality screenings for all women, including the most disadvantaged.
“I wish this had happened sooner, because we’d be about 10 years closer to finding a cure. Then again, we’ve got to go forward, not backward.” – Mary Rose Oakar
Her advocacy cemented breast cancer research as a national priority and continues to save lives today.
Congresswoman Oakar broke barriers both in representation and in practice. She co-founded the Congresswomen’s Caucus, pushed for institutional equity such as granting women access to congressional gyms and pools, and rose in party leadership to serve as Secretary (Vice Chair) of the House Democratic Caucus from 1985 to 1989.
At ADC, she served as President from 2003 to 2010, guiding the organization through the difficult post-9/11 era, a time when Arab Americans faced some of the harshest civil rights challenges in recent history. Under her leadership, ADC confronted government overreach, defended community members from discrimination and profiling, and strengthened the organization’s national voice at a time when it was most urgently needed. She expanded ADC’s outreach and visibility in Washington, D.C., while deepening connections with Arab American communities across the country, ensuring that their rights and dignity were defended.
“Mary Rose was a fighter and a leader who broke barriers and made history. She strengthened ADC at a critical time, and she always stood firmly for what was right. To me, she was not only a colleague but a trusted friend whose counsel and perspective I valued deeply. She had an unwavering commitment to our community, and she never hesitated to use her voice and her platform to defend our rights when others were silent. Her leadership helped ensure that Arab Americans had a seat at the table in Washington during some of the most difficult times we have faced. She will be remembered not only for what she achieved, but for the example she set for Arab Americans in public life, and for the personal generosity and strength of character that guided her every day.”
— Dr. Safa Rifka, ADC National Chairman
“Congresswoman Oakar embodied the values of justice, service, and integrity. She was not only a fierce advocate for Arab Americans, but also a dear friend and mentor to many within our community. On a personal level, Mary Rose carried herself with warmth, humility, and kindness. She had an incredible ability to make everyone feel valued and heard, and she treated people with the same respect whether they were community members, staff, or elected officials. I am personally indebted to her—for taking a chance on me as a young lawyer out of Detroit, bringing me into ADC, and moving me to Washington, D.C., where I now serve as Executive Director. We mourn her passing, celebrate her extraordinary life, and honor her legacy.”
— Abed Ayoub, ADC National Executive Director
The ADC Board of Directors, leadership, and membership extend our deepest condolences to Congresswoman Oakar’s family, friends, and all those who were touched by her remarkable life and service. Her legacy lives on in the lives she enriched and the generations of Arab Americans she inspired.
Funeral arrangements will be announced soon. The family asks for prayers in her honor.
May she rest in peace.