LYRIA — A man who is probably best known for being the most dedicated Democrat in the city has died. Art Weber, chairman of the Elyria Democratic Party and the city’s clerk of Council, died about 2 p.m. Tuesday at Keystone Pointe Health and Rehabilitation Center in LaGrange. Weber, 76, had been battling pneumonia for several weeks, and he was taken to the facility after an extended stay in the hospital. Many who knew the tough-as-nails Democrat always believed Weber would bounce back and return to City Hall and his seat in Council Chambers. “We weren’t ready for this,” said friend and fellow Democrat Judy Nedwick, who is the Lorain County recorder. “But I will definitely miss him. He was a very loyal Democrat and stuck to his beliefs. You have to admire him for that. I know I did.” Weber’s absence in recent weeks was noticeable. He has been the clerk of Council for more than 17 years. “He did his job well,” said Council President Mike Lotko, D-at large. “He took his role as clerk of Council very seriously. He was a good community leader who always tried to bring people together and smooth things over.” Former Councilman Forrest Bullocks said Weber started out as a welder at U.S. Steel in Lorain. He held several jobs at the plant before being promoted to safety director for three different plants in the region. Bullocks said Weber saw that as the highlight of his steel career. After that, he became the director of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Ashland office. He also worked for the Lorain County Board of Elections, and at one time served as an at-large Elyria councilman. “I think a lot of people knew Art because he was always involved in civic activities,” Bullocks said. “He was always out front.” Weber was always thinking of others in his actions, whether it was donating toys to the Not-Forgotten Box, The Chronicle-Telegram’s annual toy drive, or helping to purchase bulletproof vests and equipment for the Elyria Police Department. He was the driving force behind the city’s annual Memorial Day parade, and in 2011 led the route through the city for the 20th time as grand marshal. Even with all of his civic commitments, his crowning achievement was the commitment he made more than 53 years ago when he married his wife, Nancy. The couple did not have children. “I don’t know what else to say but he was the love of my life,” Nancy said Tuesday.