1964 photo Robert Gaitens

For 25 years, Robert J. "Bob" Gaitens III helped shape the public persona of the late Allegheny County Commissioner Tom Foerster.

When Mr. Foerster was junior member of the Democratic majority with Leonard Staisey in the late 1960s, Mr. Gaitens had his boss lie low and behind the scenes. When Mr. Foerster was essentially the minority commissioner to Democrat Jim Flaherty and Republican Robert Peirce in the mid-1970s, Mr. Gaitens raised Mr. Foerster's public profile and frequently called news conferences to take shots at the majority.

And when Mr. Foerster became chairman of the Board of Commissioners and remained in the post for more than 10 years, Mr. Gaitens picked his spots to make his boss visible.

On routine daily events or minor controversies, he shielded Mr. Foerster. On major issues, he'd have print and electronic reporters talk with Mr. Foerster individually, and rarely called news conferences.

Mr. Gaitens, who worked as an executive assistant to Mr. Foerster from 1967 to 1992, died Sunday after a lengthy, undisclosed illness. He was 73 and lived in Scott.

Mr. Gaitens was a graduate of St. Vincent College and worked for more than 10 years as a reporter at The Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He mostly covered politics and governmental issues.

When Mr. Foerster was elected county commissioner, Mr. Gaitens joined his staff as an executive assistant specializing in dealing with the news media. He also helped to shape Mr. Foerster's image during campaigns and kept his ear to the public to determine what issues were important to voters.

"It was all kind of low-tech," said Robert Nelkin, who also served on Mr. Foerster's staff. "We didn't have million-dollar PR firms or consultants. It was mostly Bob deciding how we would present the story we wanted to present, and he would make contact with the reporters and bring them in."

Mr. Gaitens usually wasn't involved in policy decisions, said Victor J. Papale, another former aide to Mr. Foerster. Even though he was responsible for Mr. Foerster's media relations, Mr. Gaitens rarely served as a spokesman.

"He was very loyal and devoted to Tom," Mr. Papale said.

Mr. Gaitens' son, Rob, said his father was a homebody who left his work behind when he went home.

His principal hobby was a love of old movies, his son said.

"He was involved in politics because it was part of his work, but he had no great love of politics," said Rob Gaitens, of Scott.

Mr. Gaitens is survived by another son, Mark, of Brighton Heights.

Arrangements are being handled by Laughlin Memorial Chapel, 222 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, where visitors will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Grace Church, Kane Boulevard, Scott.