Samuel J. Tedesco (February 21, 1915 – August 5, 2003) was an American politician, lawyer, and jurist who was the 96th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1963 to 1966.[1] He also served as Mayor of Bridgeport and as a judge.

Samuel J. Tedesco
96th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
In office
1963–1966
GovernorJohn N. Dempsey
Preceded byAnthony J. Armentano
Succeeded byFred J. Doocy
44th Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut
In office
November 11, 1957 – November 8, 1965
Preceded byJasper McLevy
Succeeded by Hugh C. Curran
Personal details
Born(1915-02-21)February 21, 1915
Bridgeport, Connecticut
DiedAugust 5, 2003(2003-08-05) (aged 88)
Piedmont, California
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEvelyn DeGruttola Tedesco
Children1
Alma materBoston University

Early life and career edit

He was born to an Italian immigrant family in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Joseph Tedesco and Elizabeth (née Gelormino) Tedesco. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky, and his law degree from Boston University. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1940-1942, and then fought in WWII, serving in the European theater in France and Belgium.

Following the war, Tedesco was elected to the Connecticut Senate as a Democrat, and served as Minority Leader. After leaving the senate in 1953, he defeated incumbent Jasper McLevy to become mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1957.[2] He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1963. Following his concurrent lieutenant governorship and mayorship, he was a Superior court judge and later administrative judge of Fairfield County.[3] He was disbarred and fined in 1976 for notarizing a forged signature.[4] Tedesco retired as a judge in 1980

Later life edit

He and his wife moved to California in 1989, where he died 14 years later of pneumonia.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Lieutenant Governor". Connecticut State Library. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  2. ^ "Jasper McLevy Is Dead at 84". New York Times. November 20, 1962. p. 33. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  3. ^ "Samuel Tedesco Obituary (2003) - Bridgeport, CT - Connecticut Post". Legacy.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  4. ^ "Judge in Connecticut Is Disbarred For Notarizing Forged Signature". The New York Times. September 10, 1976. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ^ By (August 13, 2003). "S.J. TEDESCO; WAS MAYOR, JUDGE". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
1963-1966
Succeeded by