Former Baltimore City Council member Robert ‘Bobby’ Curran dies at 76

Former Baltimore City Councilman Robert W. “Bobby” Curran, a member of one of Maryland’s most prominent political families, died Friday in his sleep, his brother said. He was 76.

Curran, a Democrat, represented District 3 in Northeast Baltimore from 1995 to 2016. He is perhaps best known for successfully spearheading the effort to ban smoking in most public places in 2007.

“He was a person who cared about what a councilman was supposed to be doing,” said his brother, former Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. “He went to the community meetings, found out what was going on, who was happy with what was happening, what city services needed to be improved.”

He was born in Baltimore on July 17, 1950, the youngest of Catherine and J. Joseph Curran Sr.’s four children. Bobby never knew a world without politics; his father mounted a run for the House of Delegates before he was born.

Though Joe Sr. lost that race, he went on to represent the 3rd District — what became known as the “Curran seat” — for nearly two decades. The district covers neighborhoods like Frankford, Lauraville and Hamilton.

Bobby was by far the baby of the family. His siblings, Joe Jr., Margaret and Martin “Mike” Curran, were all born in the 1930s. It was a “happy surprise” when their mother told them she was pregnant, Joe Jr. said.

He was 19 when his brother was born but left to serve in the Air Force. When he returned, his brother was walking and talking — “a very active young fellow,” he said.

Bobby had a particular affection for parakeets and took one of the birds home as a child. There was nothing funnier than when the parakeet flew around the living room and landed on Bobby’s head, his brother said.

He played baseball and went ice skating often. As a grade schooler, he helped make campaign signs for his father and brother. Joe Jr. was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1958, then had a lengthy political career as state senator, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Bobby helped him knock on doors throughout his childhood (and his adulthood). He graduated from Loyola High School, then enrolled at Mount St. Mary’s College. After a couple years there, he returned home to attend the Community College of Baltimore, now known as Baltimore City Community College, Joe Jr. said.

Bobby worked at the city’s Domino Sugar plant for 16 years, according to Baltimore Sun archives. He was a quality control foreman and a member of Local 692 of the Retail Clerks International Association.

Meanwhile, his other brother, Mike Curran, served on the City Council from 1977 to 1995. When Mike retired, Bobby ran for his seat and won.

“He was the third member of my family to be in the City Council,” Joe Jr. said. “That was sort of exciting.”

Bobby briefly served as vice president of the council in 2007, when he passed the smoking ban. That was among his proudest accomplishments, family said.

“Bobby Curran had a kind heart and loved serving the people of Northeast Baltimore,” said former Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is married to Bobby’s niece, Katie Curran O’Malley, a former Baltimore City District Court judge. “He showed a lot of political guts in passing the smoking ban when it was unpopular. Now we take for granted that we can breathe clean air in restaurants.”

He was also proud of his work to reduce animal cruelty, his brother said. He was a member of the mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission from 2010 to 2016.

Throughout his tenure, Bobby held leadership roles on several council committees, including health, executive appointments and judiciary and legislative investigations, according to his state biography. He championed legislation to curb gun violence. He also served on the Environmental Control Board and participated in a city heroin treatment and prevention task force.

Bobby always enjoyed talking to people and cracking a joke, especially on the campaign trail, Joe Jr. said. When someone would tell Bobby about a problem, he’d say, “Well, let me see what we can do.”

“To the extent that it could be fixed, he spoke up,” his brother said.

Bobby was also an avid sports fan, cheering on the Baltimore Orioles, Colts and Ravens.

He died at his childhood home, where he lived with his wife, Janice Vetter, of 39 years. She survives him, along with many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will take place 10 a.m. Friday at Ruck Towson Funeral Home.

The Banner publishes news stories about people who have recently died in Maryland. Our weekly obituaries newsletter shares these stories and death notices with you every Friday.

If your loved one has passed and you would like to inquire about an obituary, please fill out this form or contact obituary@thebanner.com. If you are interested in placing a paid death notice, please contact groupsales@thebanner.com or visit this website.