Paul Cellucci | |
|---|---|
Argeo P. Cellucci | |
| In office April 17, 2001 – March 25, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Gordon Giffin |
| Succeeded by | David Wilkins |
| In office January 7, 1999 – April 10, 2001 Acting: July 29, 1997 - January 7, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | William Weld |
| Succeeded by | Jane M. Swift (Acting) Mitt Romney |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 7, 1999 | |
| Governor | William Weld |
| Preceded by | Evelyn Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Jane M. Swift |
| In office 1985–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Chester G. Atkins |
| Succeeded by | Robert Durand |
| In office 1979–1985 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Flaherty |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Walrath |
| In office 1977–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Wilfred Balthazar |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Born | (1948-04-24)April 24, 1948 Hudson, Massachusetts |
| Died | June 8, 2013(2013-06-08) (aged 65) Hudson, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jan Cellucci |
| Residence | Hudson, Massachusetts |
Argeo Paul Cellucci (April 24, 1948 – June 8, 2013[1]) was an American politician and diplomat. He was the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and United States Ambassador to Canada.
Cellucci was born on April 24, 1948 in Hudson, Massachusetts. He studied at Boston College Law School and the private Hudson Catholic High School. Cellucci was married to Jan Cellucci until his death in 2013. They had two children.
On November 3, 1998, Paul Cellucci was elected as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, narrowly defeating Democratic attorney general Scott Harshbarger. He had successfully fought off a challenge from State Treasurer Joe Malone in the September primary. He was sworn in as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts on January 7, 1999.
On April 10, 2001, Cellucci resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Canada, being appointed by President George W. Bush. This made him the second consecutive Massachusetts governor to resign in order to assume an ambassadorship: his predecessor William Weld resigned after being nominated to be Ambassador to Mexico by President Bill Clinton. (Weld was never confirmed by the United States Senate, however, and hence never was Ambassador.)
In 2008, Cellucci has said that after thirty-five years in public service he had no intention of seeking further office, and that while he had no interest in serving as Vice President, he did not exclusively rule it out. He supported John McCain's candidacy for president in 2008.
On January 6, 2011, Cellucci announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis, and that it was progressing relatively slowly. Cellucci died on June 8, 2013 in Hudson, Massachusetts from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aged 65.[1]