Ella Grasso | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 83rd Governor of Connecticut | |
| In office January 8, 1975 – December 31, 1980 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert Killian William A. O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Thomas Meskill |
| Succeeded by | William A. O'Neill |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 6th district | |
| In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1975 | |
| 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 P. 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 | St. Mary's Cemetery, Windsor Locks, Connecticut |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1942, after 1951) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican (1942–1951) |
| Spouse |
Thomas Grasso (m. 1942) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Education | Mount Holyoke College (BA, MA) |
Ella Rosa Giovianna Oliva Grasso (née Tambussi; 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, after rejecting past offers of candidacies for Senate and governor. She was the first woman elected governor in Connecticut and the fourth woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. She is also the first female governor to not be the spouse or widow of a former governor. She resigned as governor due to her battle with ovarian cancer.
Grasso started in politics as a member of the League of Women Voters and Democratic speechwriter. She was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1952 and later became the first female floor leader in 1955. She was then elected as Secretary of the State of Connecticut in 1958 and served until 1971. Grasso went on to serve two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1970 to 1974. Then she was elected governor in 1974 and re-elected in 1978.