Sophie Masloff, 1st female Pittsburgh mayor, dies

PITTSBURGH, PA -- - Pittsburgh's first female mayor has died. Sophie Masloff was 96.

Masloff's longtime friend and former top aide Joseph Mistick, says she died Sunday morning at an area nursing home.

Masloff took office in May 1988 after the death of Richard S. Caliguiri. She served until January 1994.

She was known for her sense of humor.

When Bill Clinton was trying to stir up support in his 1992 presidential campaign, he telephoned Masloff to let her know he was coming to Pittsburgh. Not convinced the caller was Clinton, she replied: "Right, and I'm the Queen of Sheba."

Her tenure was marked by reductions in the city wage tax to keep residents from fleeing to the suburbs and by a complete overhaul of a controversial disciplinary system for police officers.