Christopher A. Iannella

Christopher A. Iannella (May 29, 1913 – September 12, 1992) was a member of the Boston City Council in Boston, Massachusetts, for 33 years, spanning the late 1950s until his death. He also served eight one-year terms as City Council president.

Christopher A. Iannella
Member of the Boston City Council
In office 1958–1967
In office 1970–1992
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office 1950–1957
Succeeded by	Bruce Bolling
Personal details
Born	May 29, 1913 San Sossio Baronia, Italy
Died	September 12, 1992 (aged 79) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting place	Walnut Hill Cemetery
Nationality	Italian-American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Virginia Nelson
Children	4, including Christopher Jr. and Richard
Alma mater	Boston College (BA) Harvard University (JD)
Occupation	Attorney

Early years

Iannella was born in the small village of San Sossio Baronia in Avellino, Italy, and arrived in the U.S. with his mother and sister at the age of eight, unable to speak English.[1] He went on to graduate from The English High School, Boston College, and Harvard Law School. He was one of the "college boys" featured in William Foote Whyte's classic text, Street Corner Society.[2]

Career

A Democrat, Iannella was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1950,[3] and to the Boston City Council in November 1957. He served on the council from 1958 through 1967, when he ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Boston in that year's election. He was again elected to the City Council in November 1969, and served from 1970 through his death in 1992. He was the council president in 1962, 1980, 1982, and from 1988 to 1992.[4]

Iannella helped lead an unsuccessful effort to save Boston's West End before it was demolished in the 1950s. He was known for authoring a law that encouraged the city to hire Boston residents for government jobs, and more generally as an effective intermediary in the often contentious atmosphere of Boston politics.[5]

Personal life

He was survived by four children, three of whom worked in politics.[6] Christopher Iannella Jr. has been a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council since 1993.[7] Richard P. Iannella was an at-large City Council member from 1994 through 1996 and Suffolk County Register of Probate from 1997 to 2011.[8][9] Suzanne Iannella was a member of the Boston Licensing Board and the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission as well as an unsuccessful candidate for city council in November 1997 and November 1999.[6][10][11] The room in Boston City Hall where the City Council meets is named the Christopher A. Iannella Chamber in his honor.[12]

Death

Iannella died in September 1992, of complications from cancer.[13] He was buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts.[14][5]

References

1. "City Council president Iannella dead at 79". The Boston Globe. September 15, 1992. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
2. Whyte, William Foote (1981). Street Corner Society: The Social Structure of an Italian Slum (Third ed.). University of Chicago Press. pp. 350–353. ISBN 0226895432.
3. '1955-1956 Public Officials of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,' Irving N. Hayden-clerk of the Massachusetts Senate/Lawrence R. Grove-clerk of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Biographical Sketch of Christopher A. Iannella, pg. 197
4. City Council taps Iannella for 5th term as president. Boston Herald, Jan 7, 1992
5. "Christopher Iannella". The Boston Globe. September 16, 1992 – via pqarchiver.com.
6. Canellos, Peter S. (October 23, 1997). "Iannella siblings gingerly pass the political torch". The Boston Globe. p. A.1 – via pqarchiver.com.
7. "Christopher A. Iannella, Jr. (D)". PD43+ Massachusetts Election Statistics. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
8. Chacon, Richard (February 4, 1997). "Iannella shakes his father's onerous legacy Leaving council for probate job, he has chance to make mark". The Boston Globe. p. B.4. Retrieved March 3, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
9. "Richard Iannella, member of Boston political clan, resigns Suffolk probate court job". The Boston Globe. January 7, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
10. "Mayor Walsh Overhauls Boston Licensing Board". WBUR News. December 3, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
11. "Brewing Interest in Siblings". Boston Herald. August 23, 2005.
12. https://www.cityofboston.gov/cityclerk/hearing/see.asp?type=mn
13. "Other Deaths". The Daily Spectrum. St. George, Utah. September 16, 1992. Retrieved February 22, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
14. Rezendes, Michael (September 19, 1992). "Iannella funeral draws nearly 1,000; Boston councilor called friend of poor". The Boston Globe – via pqarchiver.com.

Further reading

• Davidson, Sara (August 20, 1967). "Iannella Made It the Hard Way". The Boston Globe. p. A_6 – via pqarchiver.com.
• Richard, Ray (January 8, 1980). "Iannella new president of Boston City Council". The Boston Globe. p. 1 – via pqarchiver.com.
• Editorial: A Boston legend departs. Boston Herald, Sep 16, 1992.
• Jorgensen, Jillian (May 2, 2008). "Virginia Iannella, 86; matriarch set tone for kin's public service". The Boston Globe.

External links

• Iannella election records at ourcampaigns.com
• Photos of the Christopher A. Iannella Council Chamber at Wikimedia Commons