Politicians across the state were sharing their sympathy Sunday after it was announced that Arlen Specter passed away at the age of 82.

Former U.S. Senator Specter died from complications of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, according to his son.

He spent 30 years in the senate and a life in public service. 

Specter was born 82 years ago in Kansas, but he made his mark in Pennsylvania first as a district attorney in Philadelphia, then as a senator.

He would eventually serve that role for 30 years, before his political career began in 1963 and 1964.

Specter worked for the Warren Commission, investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

He co-authored the Single Bullet Theory, which laid the blame for the killing on Lee Harvey Oswald alone.

Then as district attorney from 1965 to 1973, Specter prosecuted corruption cases in Philadelphia.

He began his three decade career in the U.S. Senate in 1980.

He became known as a moderate Republican who didn't always go along with the rest of the party members. 

In 1991, Specter angered many feminists with his questioning of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Specter claimed Hill lied when she testified about Thomas' sexual advances.

In 2005, Specter was diagnosed with Hodgkins' disease. 

He was treated and continued working full-time in the senate. 

"I'm glad they found out what it was when they found out what it was," Specter said in an interview.

Then in April of 2008, he announced his cancer had returned. 

Specter underwent more treatment that year.

In 2009, after being a Republican for his entire political career, he switched parties and became a Democrat for another senate run.

He then lost the Democratic nomination to Joe Sestak.

President Barack Obama released a statement Sunday.

"Arlen Specter was always a fighter. From his days stamping out corruption as a prosecutor in Philadelphia to his three decades of service in the senate, Arlen was fiercely independent, never putting party or ideology ahead of the people he was chosen to serve. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Joan and the rest of the Specter family."