Donald J. Irwin

He was born to American parents, Montrose Wellington Irwin and Marion Reynolds Irwin in Rosario, Argentina in 1926.[1] Irwin came to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale University.[3] He played rugby and soccer at Yale. In addition, he swam for the school team.[4] He entered the United States Army and served with the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission in Rio de Janeiro.[3] He reentered Yale University and graduated in 1951.[3] He taught Spanish at Yale University while a student there.[3] He married Mary Stapleton on August 23, 1952.[1] Together they had four children; Patrick (b. 1953), Marion, Lucy (b. 1959) and Stephen (b. 1960). He graduated Yale Law School in 1954.[3] He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Connecticut.[3]

Irwin served as member of the Norwalk Board of Education.[3] He was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress (January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961).[3] He was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Connecticut in 1960.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress.[3] He was appointed general counsel, United States Information Agency, 1961.[3] He was appointed treasurer of the State of Connecticut by Gov. John N. Dempsey in 1962. He served from 1961-1963[1][3] Irwin was elected to the Eighty-ninth and Ninetieth Congresses (January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969).[1][3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress.[1][3] He then resumed the practice of law.[3] Irwin was elected mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, in November 1971,[1][3] defeating Jacob Rudolf. He was reelected in 1973 and was not a candidate for reelection in 1975.[3] Irwin died of heart problems on July 7, 2013 at the age of 86.[2][5]

After ending his career in politics, Irwin began involving himself in local teaching jobs around Norwalk. He was a permanent substitute teacher a Brien McMahon high school between the years 1995-2000. He also became a grandfather to 11 grandchildren. His first son, Patrick, had two children; Ana and Thomas Irwin. His first daughter, Marion, also had two children; Homer and Mary Turgeon. Lucile gave birth to three children; Ella, Stuart, and Owen Christoph. His youngest, Stephen, had four children; Jay, Matthew, Luke, and Elizabeth Irwin.[6]

• Member, Knights of Columbus[1]
• Member, Jaycees[1]

• United States Congress. "Donald J. Irwin (id: I000039)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.