Hard to believe it has been more than 10 years since Marion Barry died. Love him or hate him, Barry was the most memorable Washington politician of the past century.

The marble grave in Congressional Cemetery is about 50 yards down a row from FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover. They’re in a far left corner of the historic cemetery known for final resting spot of many politicians too far from home to be interred in their hometowns.

A four-time mayor and also a City Council member, even a cocaine bust couldn’t end Barry’s political career. His jobs program gave many 18-year-old Washingtonians their first job and that kind of patronage is everlasting. Hey, I get it. Maryland state senator Mike Miller gave me a small college scholarship and I voted for him for more than 40 years.

“Mayor for life” says the marker. Damn, right he was.