Raymond F. Lederer dies at 70

Raymond F. Lederer, former Democratic Congressman from Philadelphia whose political career ended when he was among 19 people caught up in the Abscam scandal of 1980, died Monday of cancer. He was 70 and lived in Fishtown.

Lederer and Michael "Ozzie" Myers were the two congressmen arrested in the federal sting operation, which used a phony Arab sheikh to offer bribes to elected officials. Three City Council members also were arrested. He was sentenced to Allenwood Prison.

After his conviction, Lederer resigned from Congress in 1981 and went to work as a roofer. However, he retained his leadership of the 18th Ward.

Lederer represented the 3rd Congressional District from 1977 to 1981 after serving in the Pennsylvania House from 1974 to 1976.

As a member of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House, he used his position to secure an agreement to bring Chilean fruit shipments through the Port of Philadelphia, creating thousands of new jobs.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Eileen Coyle; two sons, Miles and Joseph; four daughters, Mary Beth Baranosky, Patricia Green, Diane Benson and Claire Hampton; 15 grandchildren and four brothers.

Services: Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael's Church, 2nd and Jefferson streets. Friends may call at 6 p.m. Thursday and at 8:30 a.m. at the church. *