Samuel J. Tedesco

Samuel J. Tedesco
Samuel J. Tedesco
96th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
	In office; 1963–1966
Governor	John N. Dempsey
Preceded by	Anthony J. Armentano
Succeeded by	Fred J. Doocy
44th Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut
	In office; November 11, 1957 – November 8, 1965
Preceded by	Jasper McLevy
Succeeded by	Hugh C. Curran
Personal details
Born	February 21, 1915; Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died	August 5, 2003 (aged 88); Piedmont, California
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Evelyn DeGruttola Tedesco
Children	1
Alma mater	Boston University

Samuel J. Tedesco (February 21, 1915 – August 5, 2003) was an American politician, lawyer, and jurist who was the 96th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1963 to 1966.^[1] He also served as Mayor of Bridgeport and as a judge.

Early life and career

He was born to an Italian immigrant family in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Joseph Tedesco and Elizabeth (née Gelormino) Tedesco. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky, and his law degree from Boston University. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1940-1942, and then fought in WWII, serving in the European theater in France and Belgium.

Following the war, Tedesco was elected to the Connecticut Senate as a Democrat, and served as Minority Leader. After leaving the senate in 1953, he defeated incumbent Jasper McLevy to become mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1957.^[2] He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1963. Following his concurrent lieutenant governorship and mayorship, he was a Superior court judge and later administrative judge of Fairfield County.^[3] He was disbarred and fined in 1976 for notarizing a forged signature.^[4] Tedesco retired as a judge in 1980