Representative Tom Lantos (1928-2008)

Representative Tom Lantos (D-San Mateo, San Francisco), 80, passed away this morning due to complications from esophageal cancer.

The only Holocaust survivor who has served in the United States Congress, Representative Lantos spoke at the 2004 Kindertransport Association (KTA) national reunion, which was held in Burlingame, California. Born in Budapest, he escaped a forced labor camp and served in the anti-Nazi underground. Many of his family members perished in the Holocaust.

Here Lantos is pictured visiting a federally funded shelter for homeless women and children.