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- This article is about the Connecticut politician. For other people with the same name, see John Dempsey (disambiguation)
John Noel Dempsey (born, Jan 13, 1915 – died, July 16, 1989), was an American politician, born in Ireland, who was Governor of Connecticut.
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Early Life
Dempsey was born in Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the only son of a career British Army officer. In 1925, the family moved to Putnam, Connecticut, in the northeastern corner of the state. Dempsey worked there in the textile industry and then in the Town Hall, which made the start for his rise in state politics. While living in Putnam Dempsey was the Soccer Coach at the Pomfret School in Pomfret.
Political Career
Dempsey was an Irish Catholic Democrat. He was elected to the Putnam City Council at the age of 21. From 1948 he had six two-year terms as mayor of the city. He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1949, but managed to divide his time between state and local affairs. He served in the General Assembly until 1955, when he became executive secretary of governor Abraham A. Ribicoff.
Governor
John Dempsey was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut during Ribicoff's last term as governor, from 1959-1961. He then succeeded Ribicoff as Governor of Connecticut and served from January 21, 1961 to January 6, 1971. He was an ally of party chairman John M. Bailey. He chose not to run for re-election in 1970 ans was succeeded by Republican Thomas J. Meskill.
The University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut is known as John Dempsey Hospital. He was treated for cancer there himself in the last month of his life.
He was married to Mary Frey and they had three sons and a daughter.
External links
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abraham A. Ribicoff |
Governor of Connecticut 1961–1971 |
Succeeded by Thomas J. Meskill |
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