Des Moines Mayor Dead at 73

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Pete Crivaro, mayor of Des Moines since 1979, has died at the hospital where he was being treated for brain cancer. He was 73.

Crivaro died on Christmas Eve at Mercy Hospital Medical Center, where he had been listed in critical condition since Dec. 4.

In April, doctors removed 70 percent of a malignant tumor from Crivaro’s brain. Following the surgery, Crivaro underwent seven months of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Crivaro’s term was due to expire in 1988. He had not actively participated in city government since the operation, and City Councilman Pat Dorrian had served as acting mayor.

″Pete was an unselfish servant of the people. I valued his friendship,″ Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday. ″Even when his health was failing, Pete was focusing on how he could help the homeless and the hungry.″

Crivaro is survived by his wife, Louise, and two children. Services will be held Monday.

Dorrian said the council must decide within 90 days whether to appoint a successor or call a special election. He said the council probably will meet next week.