Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who cast more votes than any other U.S. senator from New Jersey, died last Monday after complications from viral pneumonia. He was 89 years old.

First elected to the Senate in 1982, Lautenberg lived to be the oldest member of the upper chamber by the end of his tenure and was the last surviving World War II veteran in the Senate. He initially retired from the Senate in 2000, but ultimately returned to Capitol Hill two years later at the age of 78.

Lautenberg was best known for advocating federal restrictions on tobacco use. Most notably, he authored the landmark 1987 law that banned smoking on airplanes. And 21 years later, he led the push to close the Senate "smoking rooms."

He was also a prominent voice for increased gun control even as many fellow Democrats distanced themselves from the issue. He wrote the 1996 law that prohibits domestic abusers from purchasing firearms, and called for closing the so-called gun show loophole to strengthen background checks. In fact, the last votes he cast in the Senate came in April on various gun control amendments.

The son of Polish and Russian immigrants, Lautenberg's family moved frequently throughout his childhood as his parents struggled to find steady work. Lautenberg was 19 when his father died of cancer, forcing him to work nights and weekends to help support his family until he graduated from high school.

Lautenberg then served in the Army Signal Corps in Europe from 1942 to 1946. Upon his return from the war, he enrolled in Columbia University under the G.I. Bill and earned an economics degree.

In 1952, Lautenberg and two childhood friends founded Automatic Data Processing, the country's first payroll services company. Their start-up ultimately became a multinational corporation and turned the three into millionaires. He served as chairman and CEO until he launched his political career 30 years later.

In 1982, longtime Sen. Harrison Williams, D-N.J., resigned after being convicted of bribery from the Abscam scandal. Lautenberg edged out eight other candidates in the Democratic primary to replace him.

Lautenberg announced his retirement in 2000 after three terms. But two years later, he changed course after New Jersey Democrats convinced him -- just five weeks before the election -- to run again "Age doesn't matter" became Lautenberg's mantra.

During his fifth term six years later, Lautenberg announced that he had been diagnosed with a treatable form of stomach cancer. He continued to work in the Senate between chemotherapy treatments. Four months later, he declared that he was cancer-free.

Lautneberg is survived by his wife, six children and 13 grandchildren.