HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Former U.S. Rep. Emilio Daddario, who
served 12 years in Congress and two years as mayor of Middletown,
Conn., has died. He was 91.
Daddario, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic gubernatorial
candidate in 1970, died Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C. from
heart failure.
News of his death was released by the New York Police
Department. One of Daddario's three sons, Richard, will begin
serving as the department's deputy commissioner for
counterterrorism in August.
"He was a world-class athlete, served in two wars," Richard
Daddario said in a statement issued by the NYPD.
Born in Newton Center, Mass., Daddario graduated from Wesleyan
University and the University of Connecticut School of Law and
started a law practice. He later enlisted in the Army and served
overseas in the Mediterranean Theater. He was awarded the Legion of
Merit and Italian Medaglia d'Argento medals for his military
service.
Daddario was elected mayor of Middletown at age 28 and served
from 1946 to 1948. He was appointed judge of the Middletown
Municipal Court and served from 1948 to 1950 until he was called
into active military service again, this time as a member of the
Connecticut National Guard. He served in the Far East Liaison Group
in Korea and Japan.
Daddario defeated former U.S. Rep. Edwin H. May Jr. in 1958 to
win Connecticut's 1st Congressional District seat. Daddario held
the seat from 1959 to 1971. He did not seek re-election.
Daddario was married 67 years to Berenice C. Daddario, who died
in 2007. Besides his son Richard, he leaves two other sons, Anthony
and Stephen, a sister and seven grandchildren.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
