| Donald J. Irwin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| 32nd Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut | |||
In office 1971–1975 | |||
| Preceded by | Frank Zullo | ||
| Succeeded by | Jennie Cave | ||
| Member of the United States House of Representatives | In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 | ||
| Preceded by | Albert P. Morano | ||
| Succeeded by | Abner W. Sibal | ||
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969 | |||
| Preceded by | Abner W. Sibal | ||
| Succeeded by | Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. | ||
| State Treasurer of Connecticut | |||
In office 1961–1963 | |||
| Governor | John N. Dempsey | ||
| Preceded by | John A. Speziale | ||
| Succeeded by | Gerald Lamb | ||
| Personal details | |||
| Born | Donald Jay Irwin September 7, 1926 Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Died | July 7, 2013 (aged 86) East Norwalk, Connecticut | ||
| Resting place | St. John's Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut | ||
| Political party | Democratic | ||
| Spouse(s) | Mary Stapleton[1] Janet Caldwell Fragale Irwin[2] | ||
| Children | Patrick, Marion, Lucy and Stephen | ||
| Residence | East Norwalk, Connecticut | ||
| Alma mater | Yale University | ||
Donald Jay Irwin (September 7, 1926 – July 7, 2013) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th district, Connecticut State Treasurer and mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut.
Early life and family[]
He was born to American parents, Montrose Wellington Irwin and Marion Reynolds Irwin in Rosario, Argentina in 1926.[1] Irwin came to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale College.[3] Soon after enrolling at Yale, he joined the United States Army, where he served with the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission in Rio de Janeiro.[3][4] After army service, he returned to Yale and graduated in 1951.[3] He played rugby and soccer at Yale. In addition, he swam for the school team.[5] He taught Spanish at Yale while a student there.[3] He married Mary Stapleton on August 23, 1952.[1] Together they had four children; Patrick (born 1953), Marion, Lucy (born 1959) and Stephen (born 1960). He graduated Yale Law School in 1954.[3] He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Connecticut.[3]
Political career[]
Irwin served as member of the Norwalk Board of Education.[3] He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress (January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961).[3] He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut in 1960.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress.[3] He was appointed general counsel, United States Information Agency, 1961.[3] He was appointed treasurer of the State of Connecticut by Gov. John N. Dempsey in 1962. He served from 1961 to 1963[1][3] Irwin was elected to the Eighty-ninth and Ninetieth Congresses (January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969).[1][3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress.[1][3] He then resumed the practice of law.[3] Irwin was elected mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, in November 1971,[1][3] defeating Jacob Rudolf. He was reelected in 1973 and was not a candidate for reelection in 1975.[3] Irwin died of heart problems on July 7, 2013, at the age of 86.[2][6]
Life after politics[]
After ending his career in politics, Irwin began involving himself in local teaching jobs around Norwalk. He was a permanent substitute teacher a Brien McMahon high school between the years 1995–2000. He also became a grandfather to 11 grandchildren. His first son, Patrick, had two children; Ana and Thomas Irwin. His first daughter, Marion, also had two children; Homer and Mary Turgeon. Lucile gave birth to three children; Ella, Stuart, and Owen Christoph. His youngest, Stephen, had four children; Jay, Matthew, Luke, and Elizabeth Irwin.[7]
Associations[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Political Graveyard
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fay Jr., Francis X. "Donald Irwin, former Norwalk mayor, congressman dies at 86" (obituary), The Norwalk Hour website, July 8, 2013.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15
- Donald J. Irwin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ↑ "Two Lawyers Shift Offices From Norfolk to Bridgeport", Bridgeport Sunday Post, Bridgeport, Connecticut, volume XLVIII, number 42, page C-6.
- ↑ "The Manuscripts and Archives Digital Images Database (MADID)". http://images.library.yale.edu/madid/oneItem.aspx?remID=3031948&id=3031948.
- ↑ "Donald J. Irwin, Connecticut Congressman and Treasurer, Dies at 86" (obituary), The New York Times, July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Janet C Irwin - Norwalk, Connecticut". https://www.familytreenow.com/records/people/irwin/jennie/joktblqnac-caj0jlka3nw.
- Donald J. Irwin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.
The original article can be found at Donald J. Irwin and the edit history here.