Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, 78

IT WAS APPARENT confusion over a name back in 1976 that almost led Catherine Baker Knoll to drop out of politics for good.

She was running that year for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, backed by the party, supported by then-Gov. Milton Shapp and against an opponent who made no speeches, had no headquarters and spent a total of $700 on his election bid.

He had one great advantage, however. His name was Robert E. Casey, and most observers believe that many voters confused him with Robert P. Casey, the popular auditor general and future governor.

Knoll lost the race by some 100,000 votes. She suffered a second political punch in 1984, when she lost the nomination for treasurer to Al Benedict by a mere 15,000 votes.

That was it. No more politics.

But this tough lady from Allegheny County bounced back and was finally elected state treasurer in 1988. She went on to win re-election by the largest vote total ever for a statewide Democratic candidate, and was elected lieutenant governor under Gov. Rendell in 2002.

She was in her second term after re-election in 2006 when she died yesterday at age 78 after a battle with cancer.

"Today, we mourn the passing of one of the strongest, most dedicated public servants in Pennsylvania's history," Rendell said. "Even as she fought cancer in recent months, she remained upbeat and dedicated to serving the commonwealth."

"Catherine was a very passionate and exuberant advocate for many worthy causes. Her passing is a tremendous loss for the many people whose lives she touched."

On the day she was sworn in as the state's 45th lieutenant governor and the first woman in that office, she said: "I happen to think that Pennsylvania is like a 10-speed bicycle. We have gears we haven't even tried yet."

As lieutenant governor she presided over the state Senate and was chairwoman of the state Board of Pardons. She was also led the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council.

She was born in McKees Rocks, a suburb of Pittsburgh, one of nine children of Nick Baker and the former Teresa May. Just before graduating from Duquesne University, she married Charles A. Knoll, a restaurateur and hotel owner.

She worked in the Shapp campaign in 1970, and after Shapp's election, he rewarded her with a job with the state Department of Transportation.

As state treasurer, Knoll streamlined the office, started the Pennsylvania TAP (Tuition Account Program), built the Treasury Investment Center, enabling competitive bidding for all state investments, and started a program to build affordable housing in all 67 counties.

She weathered an investigation into charges that four state consultants had reaped improper fees from a prison-bond issue. She was not charged, but the consultants received jail terms.

Knoll was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in July and began radiation and chemotherapy treatments before publicly revealing her illness in August.

As the Senate's presiding officer, she returned for the start of the fall schedule in September, but showed signs of fatigue. On Sept. 22, she announced she would take time off, missing her first Senate session in six years.

She told Senate Minority Leader Robert J. Mellow, D-Lackawanna, in September that she felt bad about putting down the gavel, in case she was needed to cast a tie-breaking vote for the party.

Mellow described a determined woman who was passionate about being an elected official - she would go anywhere, any time to represent the state, he said - and was devoted to serving the Catholic Church.

Under the state constitution, Knoll will be replaced by the Senate president pro tempore, Joseph B. Scarnati III, R-Jefferson, who will retain his Senate seat.

In a statement, Scarnati said Knoll "embodied the type of character expected of true, effective public servants." *