Cookie Cruise Honors Late Mayor O'Connor

Thousands of cookies boarded the Gateway Clipper for the 18th annual Cookie Cruise Wednesday night.

This year's cruise was dedicated to the memory of the late Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor who died of brain cancer in 2006.

Seafarers were treated to a picnic-style buffet, but the star of the evening was the array of locally made cookies normally made for weddings, graduations and other special events. A fireworks show brought the cruise to a conclusion.

This year all procedes from the event benefitted the American Diabetes Association.

O'Connor's son, Corey, was on the boat and said, "It's a great event. It honors my father. It's great that the people of Pittsburgh still come out for him. It's all for charity, and it's a great way to show off the city."

The O'Connor family also sponsors a memorial fund in the late mayor's name. Since 2008, the fund has raised more than $75,000 to help support local charities.