Crusading Brooklyn congressman Major Owens dies at age 77

Major R. Owens, a crusading Democratic congressman who had a major role in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and was known as a tireless champion of the underdog, died Monday night at the NYU Langone Medical Center at age 77, according to his son, Chris Owens.

He is believed to have died of a cardiac arrest resulting from renal failure and diabetes, his son said.

Owens was a librarian before a concern for social justice issues drove him into politics and he won appointment as Commissioner of NYC's new Community Development Agency by Mayor John Lindsay in 1968. In 1982 he was elected to the first of his 12 terms in Congress, taking the 11th District congressional seat in Central Brooklyn after Shirley Chisholm's retirement. He retired from the seat (now held by Yvette Clarke) in 2007, partly because of worsening heart problems, said Brooklyn Assemb. Jim Brennan, who shared an office with Owens in Flatbush.

"He was a reformer -- a champion of single-payer health care, a vocal opponent of the Iraq war and a supporter of public education and unions," said Brennan, who added that Owens's leadership on anti-poverty, education and social justice issues "inspired many people." Owens also sponsored legislation to keep firearms off the streets, laws to prevent child abuse and domestic violence, television decoding for the hearing-impaired, and many workers' rights bills. His support of public schools earned him the moniker "the education congressman."

He was also dubbed "the rappin' rep" for politically progressive raps he wrote and at times performed on the floor of Congress, but was also an ardent admirer of Ludwig van Beethoven. Encomiums poured in from prominent New York Democrats, with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer noting that "Owens set a sterling example of compassion and independence that left its mark on millions."

"A strong voice for the underrepresented and underprivileged, Congressman Owens led a life devoted to leadership, service and justice for all," said Congressman Charles Rangel.

Arrangements have not yet been announced, but his son Chris, a campaign management consultant, said in a statement that donations may be made to the Central Brooklyn Martin Luther King Commission in lieu of flowers. Survivors include his wife, Maria; a son, Geoffrey, who played Elvin on "The Cosby Show"; another son, Millard, who is a community activist; and his children by marriage, Carlos Cuprill and Cecilia Cuprill.