HARTFORD, Conn. — The first woman elected to be a mayor in Connecticut has died.
Ann Uccello, who would have turned 101 in May, was born in Hartford in 1922 to parents who had emigrated from Sicily. She was elected mayor of Hartford in 1967 – the city’s last Republican official to hold the position.
“Ann Ucello broke glass ceilings, but beyond that – she led Hartford through an enormously challenging [and] consequential time with courage, clarity and compassion,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement. “She was a lifelong champion for Hartford. Grateful for her life of service [and] my thoughts are with her loved ones today.”
Uccello graduated from Weaver High School and St. Joseph College before pursuing graduate work at Trinity College and the University of Connecticut Law.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of Ann Uccello’s passing. She was a strong, accomplished, and fearless woman who gave her talents to the community, University and city that she loved. She inspired women to believe in and pursue their potential, and she inspired all those with whom she worked to believe that harnessing the talents of all citizens would advance the common good," said University of Saint Joseph President Rhonas Free.
She was re-elected to office in 1969 and was also the first woman elected as mayor of a capital city in the United States.
“Ann Uccello was a trailblazer who was born and raised in Hartford and dedicated her career in public service to the city she loved,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “She fought to expand housing, ensure that children have access to essential services, and encouraged job growth and opportunities in Hartford. She had a remarkable spirit and energy, and she leaves a lasting legacy on Connecticut’s capitol city. I extend my deepest condolences to her friends and family.”
After serving as mayor, Uccello worked in the administration of President Richard Nixon followed by stints in the Ford and Carter administrations.
Lt. Gov. Susan Byziewicz said Uccello shattered glass ceilings and commanded attention, not just in Connecticut but around the globe.
“A beloved mayor and trailblazer, she will be remembered for her energy, grace, and above all, her passion,” she said in a statement. “Ann Uccello was a pioneer … she leaves a legacy that has and will continue to inspire generations of women to pursue careers in politics and public service.”
U.S. Senator Chis Murphy said she was a trailblazer.
“Born and raised in Hartford, Ann Uccello dedicated her life to public service. As the first woman to be elected mayor of a U.S. capital city and the first female mayor in Connecticut, she was a trailblazer who charted a new path for women in politics," he said in a statement. "Her legacy and lasting impact on the city of Hartford will far outlive her, and my thoughts are with her family and loved ones.”
Uccello, who has a street named after her in Hartford, served on the city council from 1963 to 1967 after working as a high school history teacher and in management positions at the G. Fox department store. In a heavily Democratic city, she defeated incumbent Mayor George Kinsella in the 1967 election and was re-elected two years later.
As mayor, she was best known for comforting city residents and helping to prevent riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, according to the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame, where she was inducted in 1999. She also worked to protect children from lead poisoning and helped create low- and moderate-income housing, according to the Hall of Fame.
Uccello also ran for the 1st Congressional District in the Hartford area in 1970 but lost a close race to Democrat William Cotter before taking the Department of Transportation job.
Uccello was one of five daughters of immigrants from Sicily, Italy. After graduating from high school and then a private Roman Catholic college, she did graduate work at Trinity College in Hartford and the University of Connecticut Law School.
She was a devout Christian and never married, according to Jacqueline Gustafson, who is married to Uccello's nephew, David Gustafson.
Jacqueline Gustafson said she once asked Uccello why she never married and Uccello responded, “I never met a man who deserved that much happiness.”
She said Uccello's funeral is expected to be held next week and she will be buried at the historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, the final resting place of many notable Hartford residents and natives including actress Katharine Hepburn.
Uccello was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame in 1999. Ann Street in Hartford was renamed in her honor in September 2008, while a street in Canicattini, Italy, was named after her in July 2016.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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