Dan Rupli, a trial attorney, political consultant and Democratic civic activist, died of stroke complications March 13 at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown. The Columbia resident was 82.

Born Danny Craig Rupli in Chicago and raised in Silver Spring, he was the son of Craig Rupli, a printing salesman and World War II Marine Corps veteran and Hattie Lee Young, a homemaker. He was a Montgomery Blair High School graduate who earned a history degree from the University of Maryland College Park. He earned his law degree at the University of Baltimore in 1969.

He joined the federal Department of Justice to oversee voter registration in Mississippi as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“He did this at his own risk,” said his sister, Robin Rupli. “He was in a Black-owned restaurant and had to be escorted by the owners back to his hotel. The work he was doing there was not welcomed.”

He recognized that politics was his calling and stayed in that arena for decades.

After the 1973 oil embargo, when the cost of utilities and gasoline increased, he formed the Organization of Consumers Justice to foster greater citizen input into the electricity and gas supply rate-making process.

In 1976 he ran as a Democrat for the House of Representatives in Maryland’s 6th District, an area that included parts of Baltimore and Howard counties as well as Frederick County and Western Maryland. Although he was defeated by incumbent Rep. Goodloe Byron in the primary election, he picked up a Baltimore Sun endorsement that praised his platform of “fuller employment, better environmental protection and changes in tax laws.”

He became the 1992 Maryland coordinator for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, who was then running for president. The two remained in touch during Sen. Harkin’s lengthy Senate career.

Mr. Rupli also served in the 2004 presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry, the 2006 Senate campaign of Kweisi Mfume and other political campaigns through the years.

“Dan was one of the more principled political people that I have ever known,” said Mfume in a statement. “His sense of fairness and justice was exceeded only by his belief in the ability to bring about change. He gave so much of himself and offered himself up — over and over again — to communities across the state of Maryland as someone willing to fight the good fight.”

His sister, Robin, said, “Dan’s personality was big, fun-loving and energetic. He could assess a political situation and not be partisan. He could see the situation through the lens of history and his experience from working on so many campaigns. He came alive when he was working on a cause he believed in.”

She also said, “In his career Dan remained absolutely committed to his core beliefs in democracy and fairness, never wavering in favor of changing political trends.”

He also backed Gov. Parris N. Glendening, who named him a representative to China on a trade mission.

“Dan had a presence. He was personable and very committed to his issues. He was an interesting fellow. When I ran for governor in 1994 it was a challenge and Dan threw himself into my campaign and was very helpful,” Gov. Glendening said.

A funeral will be held at noon April 11 at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Church Road in Washington, D.C.

Survivors include his wife of more than 12 years, Mary Ann Librando, a home care provider; two daughters, Jacqueline Rupli, of Columbia and Erika Rupli Auchterlonie, of Los Angeles; two sons, Randy Rupli of Deale and Andrew Rupli of Silver Spring; two sisters, Kathy Rupli Parker and Robin Rupli, both of the District of Columbia; and three grandchildren. He was formerly married to Brenda Rupli.

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