Hartford’s Ann Uccello, first woman mayor of any Connecticut municipality, dies at 100

Top state officials Tuesday mourned the death of Ann Uccello, a record-breaker and trailblazer who ranked among the most famous mayors in Hartford history and lived to the age of 100.

Uccello became the first woman mayor in the city’s history in 1967, as well as the first woman mayor of any municipality in Connecticut. She was also the first woman elected mayor of any capital city in the United States.

In an overwhelmingly Democratic city, Uccello stunned the local political world by winning in Hartford as a Republican. The feat was even more unusual, insiders said, because it came during the tenure of John M. Bailey, the Democratic kingmaker at the state and national levels who was known for winning elections. In more than 50 years since Uccello left office in 1971, no other Republican has won in the race for city hall.

After winning her second term in 1969, Uccello decided to run for Congress during the busy political year of 1970 — when Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. won his first term for the U.S. Senate. Uccello lost her race in a close contest in a Democratic-dominated district and later served in the Republican administration of President Richard M. Nixon for the U.S. Department of Transportation as the first consumer affairs director.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said Tuesday that Uccello will be remembered for her grace and passion as she shattered glass ceilings at a time when women often did not hold major political posts.

“Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., when the threat of riots overcame Hartford, Ann took to the neighborhoods to speak and mourn with residents, encouraging peace,” Bysiewicz said. “She served with a level of empathy, understanding, and care that is so needed in politics.”

Bysiewicz co-hosted a 100th birthday party for Uccello last May with West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and had been hoping to hold another party for her 101st birthday.

“Ann Uccello was a pioneer,” Bysiewicz said. “I admired her ground breaking work as mayor of Hartford, and one of the highest-ranking women in the Nixon administration. She leaves a legacy that has and will continue to inspire generations of women to pursue careers in politics and public service.”

Gov. Ned Lamont said Uccello loved the city of her birth and rose to its highest position.