Shamansky, Robert Norton, 1927-2011

Robert Norton Shamansky (April 18, 1927 – August 11, 2011) was an American lawyer, real estate investor, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district from 1981 to 1983.

Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in suburban Bexley, he graduated from Bexley High School before earning a B.A. degree from Ohio State University and an LL.B. degree from Harvard Law School. Admitted to the bar in 1950, Shamansky subsequently served as a Special Agent in the United States Army's Counter Intelligence Corps from 1950 until 1952. Following his service, he commenced practicing law in Columbus with a focus on real estate. With his brother, Shamansky bought and sold property. In 1966, he unsuccessfully challenged Republican incumbent Sam Devine for Devine's Ohio's 12th district seat.

In 1980, Shamansky again challenged Devine, upsetting him to become the first Democrat to represent Columbus in Congress in 41 years. He did himself no favors in his term by taking on the tobacco lobby and in refusing to back Vernal Riffe, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, in his bid for governor. As speaker, Riffe was in the middle of redistricting the state and saw to it that Shamansky's district absorbed a large chunk of the more Republican-leaning 17th district. Shamansky lost his 1982 bid for re-election to future Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Following his term in Congress, Shamansky resumed the practice of law. In 2006, he ran for his old congressional seat. However, the 12th had been significantly redrawn since he'd last served in Congress, and he lost to Kasich's successor, Pat Tiberi, by 14 points. On August 11, 2011, Shamansky committed suicide at his home in Columbus. He was buried in New Agudas Achim Cemetery in Columbus.