Attilio Frassinelli Papers

Attilio R. Frassinelli was born in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, on August 7, 1907. He was educated in the town's public schools but left at the age of 14 to help support his family. He worked a number of jobs early in his life, first at the Rhode Island Worsted Mill and later at Warren's Mill, both located in Stafford Springs. He subsequently worked as a delivery boy at Bidorini's Grocery, and as a clerk at Arnold's Hardware, before opening his own business, "Pop's Lunch," near the site of the old Palace Theater. In 1927 he married Mildred M. McLagan. They had five children, nineteen grandchildren, and many great grandchildren.

Prior to World War II Frassinelli worked as an agent for Metropolitan Life. During the war he served as a civilian instructor of the Army Aircraft Division of Hamilton Standard in Westerly, Rhode Island. Following the war he established his own insurance agency, conducted several real estate enterprises, and owned and ran a school bus transportation company.

Frassinelli's entry into politics came in the 1930s when he was elected a justice of the peace, and as a member of the Stafford Springs school board in 1932. His next political appointment came in 1946 when he was elected first selectman of Stafford Springs, an office he would hold for the next twelve years. At the top of his list of accomplishments as first selectman was overseeing the reconstruction of Stafford after the flood of 1955. During his tenure as first selectman he was also elected to the Connecticut General Assembly three times, in 1947, 1949, and 1953.

In 1955 Frassinelli was appointed by Governor Abraham Ribicoff to be be Commissioner of Food and Drugs. When the Department of Consumer Protection was created in 1959, Frassinelli was appointed its first commissioner. He continued to serve in these two positions for the next ten years. In 1966 he was elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor, serving from 1967 until 1971 as Governor John Dempsey's fourth Lieutenant Governor.

Frassinelli also served as a member of numerous public and private organizations, to include being president of the New England Association of Food and Drug Officials, president of the New York Conference of Food and Drug Officials, and a member of the President's National Food and Drug Advisory Council. In 1968 he received the Distinguished Public Service Award for his service in government as a person of Italian-American heritage. Locally he was the president of the Rotary Club, a member of the Italian Benefit Society, and a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was heavily involved in community projects, and served as a popular boxing announcer and master of ceremonies. Attilio Frassinelli died February 9, 1976.