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Former Norwalk Mayor Donald Irwin Dies At Age 86

NORWALK, Conn. -- Former Norwalk Mayor Donald Jay Irwin, who also served three terms as a 4th District congressman, died July 7 at the age of 86 in his East Norwalk home. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 203 East Ave., East Norwalk. Burial with military honors will follow in St. John Cemetery, Richards Avenue, Norwalk. Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave., Norwalk, handled arrangements. 

Irwin was born Sept. 7, 1926, to American parents, Montrose Wellington Irwin and Marion Reynolds Irwin in Rosario, Argentina, according to his Wikipedia biography.

He moved to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale University but soon joined the U.S. Army and served with the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission in Rio de Janeiro. Irwin re-entered Yale and graduated in 1951 and from Yale Law School in 1954.

His first elected office was as a member of the Norwalk Board of Education. Irwin served three terms in Congress, representing the 4th District, from 1959 to 1961 and from 1965 to 1969. He also served as treasurer of Connecticut.

Irwin was elected mayor of Norwalk in 1971 and re-elected in 1973.

“Donald Irwin was a dedicated public servant who committed his time, talent and energy to making the City of Norwalk and this state a better place,” said Gov. Dannel Malloy. “Over the course of his career, Donald accrued an impressive record of accomplishment as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as State Treasurer and as Mayor of Norwalk. We are grateful for Donald’s service and extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Lt. Governor Wyman said, “We are extremely saddened by the death of Donald Irwin. Throughout his 16-year career as an elected official, Donald served Connecticut and our citizens with devotion and integrity. Our thoughts and prayers are with Donald’s family and friends as they are grieving his loss.”

He is survived by his wife, Janet Caldwell Fragale Irwin. His first wife, Mary Stapleton Irwin, predeceased him.

Memorial contributions can be sent to St. Joseph Church, 85 S. Main St., Norwalk, CT 06854.

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