While waiting in a church pew to officiate at an Eagle Scout ceremony last month, then-Sen. J. Robert Hooper and his lifelong friend, Harford County Councilman James V. McMahan, broke into a soft song, the councilman recalled yesterday.
Mr. Hooper, in frail health, had announced his resignation from the state Senate as of Dec. 31 but earlier in the month was still representing Harford County's District 35 at official functions. Eagle Scout ceremonies were among his favorite events.
"I asked him his favorite hymn, and he said `Old Rugged Cross,'" Mr. McMahan said. "With that, we both started singing and got through the first verse, just two old friends singing together."
Mr. Hooper, a Harford County Republican legislator, businessman and community activist, died of cancer Thursday at his home in Street. He was 71.
"He was just a real down-to-earth guy, everybody's friend, everybody's neighbor," Mr. McMahan said.
Mr. Hooper, known to his legislative colleagues for his high-fives and good nature, had served in the Senate since 1999. During the Senate's morning session yesterday, Sen. David R. Brinkley, a Frederick County Republican and the minority leader, paid tribute.
"We are relieved that Senator Hooper is passed from his pain, and he is in a better place," Mr. Brinkley said. "He certainly loved his service to his community, he loved his service to the state and he certainly loved this body."
After the session, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said the legislature was impressed by Mr. Hooper's determination to attend November's grueling special session.
Mr. Hooper had battled colon cancer for the past few years and suffered a mild heart attack a year ago. The special session convinced him that he could no longer meet the demands of the office.
"It would be unjust to the people of the 35th District to expect less than a 100 percent effort from their representative," he said at a news conference. "This I can no longer give."
Mr. Miller said, "He had a very tough disease, and it was very painful, but he insisted on being here the entire time. He would camp out on the couch in the back even though his nausea was just driving him crazy."
Mr. Hooper, a former Democrat who previously had served eight years on the County Council, changed parties before running for the Senate in 1998. He won his third term in 2006 and asked that Del. Barry Glassman be appointed to his seat.
