Pittsburghers remember Jimmy Carter as humanitarian, voice for the working class
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- In Pittsburgh, Jimmy Carter is being remembered by those who heard him speak and knew him personally.
When Jimmy Carter came to Pittsburgh during his 1976 campaign, he found himself eating a fish sandwich next to the city's mayor at the Original Oyster House. The location was in no way random.
"He connected with working people really, really well," said Andrew Lupovitz, who was in the restaurant that day. "He would look you in the eye, he would shake your hand, and he would he would answer your questions."
It's something Lupovitz says resonated with Pittsburghers, along with lacking polish when he spoke.
"I think his real strength at that time was he was very down to earth," Lupovitz said.
Then a teenager, Lupovitz's father became Carter's Western Pennsylvania coordinator after hearing Carter had become the first southern governor to hang a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. in their capitol.
Lupovitz found himself talking with Carter on multiple occasions. His family even housed Carter's son when they were in town. Upon his passing, Lupovitz says he feels relief for Carter and his family.
"I've seen pictures of him recently, and he, you know, clearly looks his age."
"I'm very sad, as is my entire team and the board of directors," said Howard B. Slaughter, the president of Habitat for Humanity's Pittsburgh chapter.
"It was Jimmy Carter, quite honestly, that really put Habitat on the map."
He says more than 100 homes in Pittsburgh are the direct result of Carter's involvement with Habitat, which spurred donations and public involvement.
"Jimmy Carter is known for his humanitarian work and his human rights work. Those two things will be the legacy, in my opinion of President Jimmy Carter," Slaughter said.
"That's the thing he's going to be remembered for the most. It's not the four years was in office," Lupovitz added.
Lupovitz told KDKA-TV that Carter's death didn't bring him sadness, but rather joy.
"I guess I'm just glad that I got to know him, and I'm still glad that he was our president when we needed somebody like him in the White House. And I'm glad that his family was with him."
