Preceded by Frank Zullo Preceded by Abner W. Sibal Education Yale University Succeeded by Abner W. Sibal Role U.S. representative | Preceded by Albert P. Morano Name Donald Irwin Succeeded by Jennie Cave Party Democratic Party | |
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Died July 7, 2013, East Norwalk, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States Residence East Norwalk, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States | ||
Succeeded by Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. | ||
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.
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Early life and family
He was born to American parents, Montrose Wellington Irwin and Marion Reynolds Irwin in Rosario, Argentina in 1926. Irwin came to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale University. He entered the United States Army and served with the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission in Rio de Janeiro. He reentered Yale University and graduated in 1951. He taught Spanish at Yale University while a student there. He married Mary Stapleton on August 23, 1952. Together they had four children; Patrick (b. 1953), Marion, Lucy (b. 1959) and Stephen (b. 1960). He graduated Yale Law School in 1954. He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Connecticut.
Political career
Irwin served as member of the Norwalk Board of Education. He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress (January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961). He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut in 1960. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress. He was appointed general counsel, United States Information Agency, 1961. He was appointed treasurer of the State of Connecticut by Gov. John N. Dempsey in 1962. He served from 1961-1963 Irwin was elected to the Eighty-ninth and Ninetieth Congresses (January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress. He then resumed the practice of law. Irwin was elected mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, in November 1971, defeating Jacob Rudolf. He was reelected in 1973 and was not a candidate for reelection in 1975. Irwin died of heart problems on July 7, 2013 at the age of 86.