State Representative William G. Reinstein, 59, passed away Friday, May 15, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Ironically, his death came just one day after Governor Paul Celliucci signed a bill sponsored and fought for by Rep. Reinstein that will prohibit an asphalt batching plant from being constructed at Rowe's Quarry.

Always committed to fighting that proposed facility, Reinstein's crusade became personal after he was diagnosed with cancer. "Maybe this legislation will help to prevent someone else from getting cancer," he told close friends last week.

Arguably the most popular vote getter in the history of Revere, he was elected to every political office that the City of Revere was exclusively able to confer.

Billy Reinstein began his political career at age 23 by topping the ticket for election to the Revere School Committee (1964-67), followed by election to the Northeast Regional Vocational School Committee (1966-69), Revere City Council (1968-69), three terms as state representative and three terms as mayor of Revere. He then returned to the legislature and served seven more terms. At the time of his death he served on powerful House Ways and Means Committee and Committee on Rules. He was also an Assistant Majority Leader.

When he was elected mayor of Revere in 1971 he was the youngest mayor in Massachusetts.

Although there were many major accomplishments during his six years as mayor, Mr. Reinstein took particular delight in innovative celebrations he created for the city's young children, most notably Christmas and Halloween when City Hall was transformed into a holiday wonderland for the city's youth, parents and grandparents.

He was also the founder of Revere First, an organization that brought out the best in Revere. Among the group activities were a Thanksgiving dinner for 700 needy families and senior citizens, a Fourth of July celebration and a Senior Citizen Prom. He also devoted much of his time to the Revere Santa Fund, which helped brighten the lives of impoverished families in the city during the holidays.

When it became known how ill he was, a reception was held earlier this year at the Wonderland Ballroom where over a four-hour period, 3,000 people visited to offer their support and encouragement.

He was an affable, easy-to-like individual who always had a smile and a joke to tell and was easily accessible and known for the many favors he did. He will probably be best remembered for his total commitment to helping downtrodden residents who were not able to help themselves.

"Bill Reinstein didn't choose a life of public service for his own benefit," said former State Rep. Richard Voke. "His happiest moments came when he was helping someone who could not help themselves. And, believe me, he had a lot of moments like that." His love for the City of Revere is typified by a slogan in his first bid for elective office in 1963: "A man who is proud of the place in which he lives - lives so that his place will be proud of him."

Rep. Reinstein recently became the first recipient of the lifetime Appreciation Award from the Massachusetts Veterans Association.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maureen (Judge) and two children, Kathi-Anne and William Jr.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Porcella Funeral Home. Rep. Reinstein will lie in state at the Revere City Hall Council Chambers on Sunday from 7 to 9pm, and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9.