Ella Tambussi Grasso
| Ella T. Grasso | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 83rd Governor of Connecticut | |
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In office January 8, 1975 – December 31, 1980 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Robert Killian William O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Thomas Meskill |
| Succeeded by | William O'Neill |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 6th district |
|
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In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Meskill |
| Succeeded by | Toby Moffett |
| 64th Secretary of the State of Connecticut | |
|
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1971 |
|
| Governor |
Abraham Ribicoff John Dempsey |
| Preceded by | Mildred Allen |
| Succeeded by | Gloria Schaffer |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi May 10, 1919 Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | February 5, 1981 (aged 61) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Resting place | Saint Mary's Cemetery Windsor Locks, Connecticut |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Grasso |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Mount Holyoke College (BA, MA) |
Ella Grasso (May 10, 1919 – February 5, 1981) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 83rd Governor of Connecticut from January 8, 1975 to December 31, 1980. She was the first woman elected to this office and the first woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state without having been the spouse or widow of a former governor.
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Tambussi was born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to Italian immigrant parents Maria (née Oliva) and Giacomo Tambussi, a mill worker. After attending St. Mary's School, Windsor Locks, and the Chaffee School, Windsor, she attended Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she earned her B.A. in 1940, and her M.A. two years later. After graduation, she served as assistant director of research for the War Manpower Commission of Connecticut.
In 1952, Grasso was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives and served until 1957. She became first woman to be elected Floor Leader of the House in 1955. In 1958 she was elected Secretary of the State of Connecticut and was re-elected in 1962 and 1966. She was the first woman to chair the Democratic State Platform Committee and served from 1956 to 1968. She served as a member of the Platform Drafting Committee for the 1960 Democratic National Convention. She was the co-chairman for the Resolutions Committee for the Democratic National Conventions of 1964 and 1968. In 1970 she was elected as a Democratic representative to the 92nd Congress, and won re-election in 1972.
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