John Olver

John Walter Olver (September 3, 1936 – February 23, 2023) was an American politician. He was the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district from 1991 to 2013. Olver grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania. He graduated from college at the age of 18. After college, Olver earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He taught chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for eight years.

John Olver
Olver in the 111th United States Congress
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 1st district
In office June 18, 1991 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Silvio O. Conte
Succeeded by	Richard Neal
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Franklin and Hampshire district
In office January 3, 1973 – June 15, 1991
Preceded by	John Barrus
Succeeded by	Stan Rosenberg
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 2nd Hampshire district
In office January 1, 1969 – January 3, 1973
Preceded by	Donald Madsen
Succeeded by	James Collins
Personal details
Born	John Walter Olver (1936-09-03) September 3, 1936 Honesdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Rose Richardson ​ ​ (m. 1959; died 2014)​
Children	1
Education	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS) Tufts University (MS) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD)

He served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1968 and the Massachusetts Senate in 1972. Olver announced that he would not seek re-election in 2012. He retired at the end of his eleventh term in Congress.

Olver died on February 23, 2023, at the age of 86.