Joseph A. Langone Jr. (1896–1960) was a Massachusetts state senator from 1933 to 1940, and was Boston Election Commissioner in the 1940s.

Early life

Langone was born in Boston on September 8, 1896. He attended St. Mary's Parochial School, Warren Grammar School, and English High School. His father, Joseph A. (Giuseppe Antonio) Langone Sr., was an Italian immigrant from

Marsico Nuovo Marsico Nuovo ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Potenza in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. It was the seat of the bishops of Grumentum. It is an agricultural centre in the Agri river valley. History The city's ori ...

Potenza Potenza (, also , ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one ...

, who opened a successful funeral home in Boston and is credited with bringing the

Order of the Sons of Italy in America The Order Sons of Italy in America ( it, Ordine Figli d’Italia in America, OSIA) is the largest and the oldest Italian American fraternal organization in the United States. A similar organization exists in Canada. It has more than 600,000 mem ...

to Massachusetts. In 1907, Langone Sr. was awarded a bronze medal by the Italian government for "notable progress in business and finance and society". From 1923 to 1924, he represented the Fifth Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. As a first lieutenant in the Massachusetts State Guard, Langone Jr. led a company during the Boston Police Strike of 1919. He followed in his father's footsteps and became an undertaker, eventually running the family funeral home in the North End. In 1927, the Langone funeral home handled the funeral of

Sacco and Vanzetti Nicola Sacco (; April 22, 1891 – August 23, 1927) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (; June 11, 1888 – August 23, 1927) were Italian immigrant anarchists who were controversially accused of murdering Alessandro Berardelli and Frederick Parmenter, a ...

, a historic event that drew thousands of mourners. According to the ''Boston Globe'', it was "one of the most tremendous funerals of modern times."

Political career

Langone and his wife were influential in Depression-era Boston politics. Langone was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1932, narrowly defeating six Irish-American candidates, and ending years of Irish political domination in his district, which included East Boston, Charlestown, and the North, West, and South Ends. He went on to serve four consecutive terms, and was Boston Election Commissioner in several

James Michael Curley James Michael Curley (November 20, 1874 – November 12, 1958) was an American Democratic politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He served four terms as mayor of Boston. He also served a single term as governor of Massachusetts, characterized ...

administrations. Langone's wife "Tina" was also well known in the community. As a member of the Massachusetts Board of Immigration and Americanization, she helped countless local Italian immigrants assimilate and obtain U.S. citizenship. Known as a fiery-tempered defender of the "little man", Langone launched an investigation into Boston's welfare department, alleging it was withholding money from the needy, and in 1939 organized a march on City Hall to demand better services for the North End. In his obituary he is described as a "strong lieutenant" of Curley, and a man who "did not mince words". He once filed a bill intended to oust Boston Mayor

Frederick Mansfield Frederick William Mansfield (March 26, 1877 – November 6, 1958) was an American politician and 46th mayor of Boston, Massachusetts. Early life Mansfield was born in East Boston, Massachusetts, March 26, 1877. Mansfield was the son of Michael R ...

from office. In 1937, Langone ran for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

seat in

Massachusetts's 11th congressional district Massachusetts's 11th congressional district is an obsolete congressional district in eastern Massachusetts. It was eliminated in 1993 after the 1990 U.S. census. Its last congressman was Brian Donnelly; its most notable were John Quincy Adams ...

. Langone was seen as the favorite due to the district's large Italian population, however he finished third behind

Thomas A. Flaherty Thomas Aloysius Flaherty (December 21, 1898 – April 27, 1965) was a member of the US House of Representatives from Massachusetts. Flaherty was born in Boston, Massachusetts, December 21, 1898. He attended the public schools, Boston College ...

and John F. Cotter. Flaherty's victory was seen as a swing towards Mayor

Maurice J. Tobin Maurice Joseph Tobin (May 22, 1901July 19, 1953) was an American politician serving as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, the Governor of Massachusetts, and United States Secretary of Labor. He was a member of the Democratic Party and a liberal that ...

and away from James Michael Curley, whose supporters backed Langone.

Personal life

In 1920 he married Clementina Poto Langone. The couple had six children. One, Joseph A. Langone III, became a Massachusetts state representative. Another,

Frederick C. Langone Frederick Charles Langone (October 31, 1921 – June 25, 2001) was an American politician who served as a member of the Boston City Council from 1961 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1983. He was Council President in 1966. Langone, unofficially dubbed the ...

, was a Boston city councilor. He died of a heart attack in Beth Israel Hospital on June 9, 1960.

Awards and honors

In 1940, over 5,000 people attended a testimonial banquet at

Boston Garden The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (late ...

in honor of Langone and his wife. In attendance were Boston mayor

, Congressman

John F. Fitzgerald John Francis "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald (February 11, 1863 – October 2, 1950) was an American Democratic politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He served as a U.S. Representative and Mayor of Boston. He also made unsuccessful runs for the United ...

, Attorney General

Paul A. Dever Paul Andrew Dever (January 15, 1903April 11, 1958) was an American Democratic politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He served as the 58th Governor of Massachusetts and was its youngest-ever Attorney General. Among his notable accomplishments ...

, former Massachusetts governors

and Charles F. Hurley, Springfield mayor Roger Lowell Putnam, Medford mayor John C. Carr, and other Democratic leaders. Mayor Tobin said it was the largest testimonial dinner ever held in Boston. The Boston Government Service Center in Government Center was named the "Senator Joseph A. Langone Jr. Memorial Center" in his honor.

Langone Park Langone Park is a waterfront park in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1973, it is named for Massachusetts state senator Joseph A. Langone, Jr. and his wife Clementina Langone. The park features a Little League Baseball field ...

in the North End is named for Langone and his wife.

References

External links