Ex-mayor ‘Young Tommy’ dies
Brother of Nancy Pelosi was proud of civil rights record in helping to run Baltimore
Thomas D’Alesandro III, a former Baltimore mayor affectionately known as “Young Tommy” and member of a storied political family, died at his North Baltimore home Sunday of stroke complications. He was 90 years old.
The oldest brother of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mr. D’Alesandro was mayor for one tumultuous term, from 1967 to 1971, that was marked by the 1968 riots, racial strife and strikes by city laborers, bus drivers and symphony musicians.
But it was also a time of rebuilding what even then was an aging city, and one that was losing both residents and political power to the growing suburbs. As Baltimore’s 42nd mayor, he opened schools, built a new police headquarters and pushed for open housing. Mr. D’Alesandro got Baltimoreans to approve an $80 million bond issue to build schools. He devised summer recreation programs — mobile pools, day camps — for city youth. And he laid legislative groundwork for the Inner Harbor development.
In a statement, Ms. Pelosi wrote that her brother “was the finest public servant I have ever known” who “dedicated his life to our city.”
“A champion of civil rights, he worked tirelessly for all who called Baltimore home,” she wrote. “Tommy was a leader of dignity, compassion and extraordinary courage, whose presence radiated hope upon our city during times of struggle and conflict.”
His son, Nick D’Alesandro, 62, said his father contributed to various causes throughout his life, carrying “strong beliefs” that people “should contribute to the times in which they live.”
“I was consistently astonished by his incredible generosity,” Nick D’Alesandro said. “I can’t recall how many times he foot the bill during get-togethers with other people.”
Nick recalled that when he was a teenager, he once said to his father “nice guys finish last,” which immediately earned a rebuke.
“He said, ‘That’s not right! Nice guys finish first! Nice guys finish first!’ ” Nick said.
D’Alesandro was a man of conviction, the type every young boy wants to grow up to become, said his grandson, Matt D’Alesandro, 21, of Baltimore.
He liked telling a story of a business owner who had donated to his mayoral campaign later trying to call in a political favor once he was elected, the grandson said.
“He wrote them a check back for the amount they donated,” Matt D’Alesandro said. “He would not be bought.”
Thomas D’Alesandro, who took office vowing to “root out every cause or vestige of discrimination,” remained proud throughout his life of his progressive record on civil rights. As City Council president, he worked with Mayor Theodore McKeldin, a liberal Republican, to eliminate racial barriers in employment, education and other areas. As mayor, he appointed multiple African Americans to his administration, some of them, such as George Russell Jr., the city solicitor and member of the Board of Estimates, the first African Americans to hold those positions.
Nick said his father’s positions on civil rights are still a point of pride for the family. He said he can still remember stories his father told him about going to meetings where residents would throw up the Nazi salute in protest as well as spit on religious leaders for supporting desegregation and equal rights for black people.
Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young said in a statement that Mr. He began his political career in 1956 D’Alesandro “guided the city at a with a seat on the Board of Elections tumultuous time and made important Supervisors. He was just out of the strides while in office.” He cited efforts Army, four years out of the University of Mr. D’Alesandro made in “removing Maryland Law School. He attended racial barriers in employment and then-Loyola College as an undergradueducation and laying the groundworkate. for what would become the worldHe became president of the City famous Inner Harbor.” Council in 1962 after the previous office
“He will always be remembered for holder, Philip H. Goodman, replaced a his commitment to and love for mayor who had resigned to accept a Baltimore,” Young said. judgeship.
Gov. Larry Hogan wrote in a stateIn 1967, he ran for mayor. He beat ment that Mr. D’Alesandro “will long future Orioles owner Peter Angelos for be remembered for his leadership in the Democratic nomination, then divisive times, and for his efforts to root soundly defeated Republican Arthur out discrimination and rebuild the city Sherwood in the general election. The he loved.” city had 555 polling places; Mr. D’Ales
Before his death, Mr. D’Alesandro andro was fond of reminding people was a courtly grandfather of 10 who he’d won every one of them. favored big band music and wore a Mr. D’Alesandro often said no white jacket and tie to Baltimore Orioles man in the city of Baltimore during baseball games. the time was better engaged with the
He was the son of Thomas D’Alesancity’s black community than he was. dro Jr., known as “Big Tommy” or Upon winning office, he selected “Tommy the Elder,” a longtime mayor African Americans for key positions, and congressman whom many credit including the first African American with bringing major league baseball leaders of the city’s schools and the back to Baltimore. But “Young Tommy” fire department. left his own mark on the city. At times, he displayed a hot streak. At one point while mayor, his appointments to the school board took a beating in a television news report. Watching at home over dinner, D’Alesandro got up, drove to the station and went on the air to defend himself.
But his tenure would be defined, and some say ended, by the riots in April 1968 after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., which left six people dead, 700 injured and thousands of businesses damaged or destroyed in Baltimore. Many believed Mr. D’Alesandro, who had been expected to seek reelection, became disillusioned after the riot and decided to return to private life. Mr. D’Alesandro, a father of five, said it was a financial decision — taking home $696 every two weeks as mayor just wasn’t enough to support his family.
Still, he acknowledged the toll of leading a city struggling with racial tensions, crime and poverty. While he was known for his ability to draw federal funds to the city, the needs were so great that local taxes were raised more than 20% during his tenure.
“Somewhere along the line my strength started to sap,” he told The Sun