Congressional Chief of Staff Gerard F. Schiappa, 67

Gerard Francis Schiappa, 67, director of federal relations for Turner Construction and former administrative assistant to congressman Louis C. Wyman (R-N.H.), died of cancer March 17 in his home in Potomac Falls.

Mr. Schiappa, who had a 50-year career in government affairs, also was special counsel to former secretary of the navy J. William Middendorf II from 1975 to 1976 during the Ford administration.

He began his career as an elevator operator and mailroom clerk in the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving in the Army, Mr. Schiappa returned to the House, where he served on the staffs of Reps. Arch A. Moore (R-W.Va.), Joe Skubitz (R-Kan.), William C. Cramer (R-Fla.) and Wyman.

As Wyman's chief of staff, Mr. Schiappa had a reputation on Capitol Hill as a brilliant political tactician who knew how to get things done. His counsel to Wyman, who served on the House subcommittee on defense appropriations, helped save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from closure in the early 1970s. He served as a principal coordinator for Wyman's U.S. Senate campaign against John Durkin, a Democrat, in a 1975 runoff election, which is known as the closest Senate race in U.S. history.

Mr. Schiappa left public service in 1978 to join the Panax Corp. as its vice president of public affairs. He founded a lobbying firm, the Capital Group, in 1981 and served as its president and chief executive until 1996. In 1997, he became managing partner of Middendorf & Associates.

Mr. Schiappa was born the third of 10 children in Scranton, Pa. He grew up in Mount Ranier, graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville and attended Capitol Page School in Washington. He also attended Emerson Preparatory School and the University of Maryland.

He served on the executive finance committee of the 1981 and 1985 Presidential Inaugural Committees, and President Ronald Reagan's 1981 Presidential Transition Office for Intelligence Operations.

He served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the Educational Film Center and Prevision Corp. He was also a member of the Washington Performing Arts Society, ALS Association of Washington, Great Falls Citizens Association, Defense Forum Foundation and the Reagan Alumni Association.

Of all his accomplishments, Mr. Schiappa was most proud of being a mentor to countless young men and women eager to begin their professional careers. John Dean, former White House counsel, wrote in his autobiography that Mr. Schiappa helped him get his first job in government.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Jane Thompson Schiappa of Potomac Falls; two children, Brien Schiappa-Dunn and John Schiappa, both of Potomac Falls; a brother; eight sisters; and one granddaughter.