Jim Ferlo Dies: Obituary, Wife, Children, Cause Of Death

Jim Ferlo, a former state senator, died on May 15, 2022. Ferlo’s death was announced by Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa in a statement posted Sunday evening. Ferlo was 70 years old. His cause of death has not been disclosed.

“Having Jim Ferlo as part of the discourse kept you on your toes and made you more educated and intelligent, no matter which side of an issue someone landed on,” Costa added. “I know he made many of us, including myself, better public servants as a result of that.”

Jim Ferlo did not have a wife. Ferlo came out as gay on September 23, 2014

Ferlo represented the 38th Senate District, which included parts of Pittsburgh as well as Allegheny, Armstrong, and Westmoreland counties. He held that position from 2003 to 2015, and he was the Democratic Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee. Ferlo was also the Democratic Appropriations Committee Vice-Chairman.

Ferlo was described by Costa as “the progressive conscience of the Senate throughout his time, and possibly the entire General Assembly.” Costa’s politics date back to the 1960s, when he began organising, demonstrating, and protesting for causes close to his heart.