Donald J. Irwin

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Donald J. Irwin
Donald J. Irwin.jpg
32nd Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut
In office
1971–1975
Preceded byFrank Zullo
Succeeded byJennie Cave
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961
Preceded byAlbert P. Morano
Succeeded byAbner W. Sibal
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969
Preceded byAbner W. Sibal
Succeeded byLowell P. Weicker, Jr.
State Treasurer of Connecticut
In office
1961–1963
GovernorJohn N. Dempsey
Preceded byJohn A. Speziale
Succeeded byGerald Lamb
Personal details
Born
Donald Jay Irwin

(1926-09-07)September 7, 1926
Rosario, Argentina
DiedJuly 7, 2013(2013-07-07) (aged 86)
East Norwalk, Connecticut
Resting placeSt. John's Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Stapleton[1] Janet Caldwell Fragale Irwin[2]
ChildrenPatrick, Marion, Lucy and Stephen
ResidenceEast Norwalk, Connecticut
Alma materYale 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 1961-1963[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. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Political Graveyard
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Fay Jr., Francis X. "Donald Irwin, former Norwalk mayor, congressman dies at 86" (obituary), The Norwalk Hour website, July 8, 2013.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p
    • United States Congress. "Donald J. Irwin (id: I000039)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  4. ^ "Two Lawyers Shift Offices From Norfolk to Bridgeport", Bridgeport Sunday Post, Bridgeport, Connecticut, volume XLVIII, number 42, page C-6.
  5. ^ "The Manuscripts and Archives Digital Images Database (MADID)". images.library.yale.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  6. ^ "Donald J. Irwin, Connecticut Congressman and Treasurer, Dies at 86" (obituary), The New York Times, July 9, 2013.
  7. ^ "Janet C Irwin - Norwalk, Connecticut". www.familytreenow.com. Retrieved 2017-11-08.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Albert P. Morano 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's 4th congressional district
1959–1961 		Succeeded by
Abner W. Sibal
Preceded by
Abner W. Sibal 		Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's 4th congressional district
1965–1969 		Succeeded by
Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
Political offices
Preceded by
John A. Speziale 		State Treasurer of Connecticut
1961–1963 		Succeeded by
Gerald A. Lamb
Preceded by
Frank Zullo 		Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut
1971–1975 		Succeeded by
Jennie Cave
Retrieved from ""