NJ Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89

Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J.

The next time a flight attendant reminds you there’s no smoking or you witness a teenager getting carded at a liquor store, think of Frank Lautenberg.

The liberal Democratic senator from New Jersey left his mark on the everyday lives of millions of Americans, whether they know it or not. In the 1980s, he was a driving force behind the laws that banned smoking on most U.S. flights and made 21 the drinking age in all 50 states.

Lautenberg, a multimillionaire businessman who became an accomplished — if often underestimated — politician, died Monday at a New York hospital after suffering complications from viral pneumonia. His funeral will take place Wednesday morning in New York City.

At 89, he was the oldest person in the Senate and the last of 115 World War II veterans to serve there.

“He improved the lives of countless Americans with his commitment to our nation’s health and safety,” President Barack Obama said, “from improving our public transportation to protecting citizens from gun violence to ensuring that members of our military and their families get the care they deserve.”

The Senate observed a moment of silence in Lautenberg’s memory, and at the White House, the flag was lowered to half-staff.