Representative Donald Jay Irwin

Donald Jay Irwin (September 7, 1926 – July 7, 2013) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut’s 4th district, Connecticut State Treasurer, and mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut. A member of the Democratic Party, he served three terms in the United States Congress between 1959 and 1969, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American history and representing the interests of his constituents in southwestern Connecticut.

Irwin was born to American parents, Montrose Wellington Irwin and Marion Reynolds Irwin, in Rosario, Argentina, on September 7, 1926. Raised abroad, he retained strong ties to the United States through his family and came to the United States in 1945 to attend Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut. Soon after enrolling at Yale, he joined the United States Army, serving with the Joint Brazil–United States Military Commission in Rio de Janeiro. His military service during the immediate post–World War II period provided him with early exposure to international affairs and bilingual, cross-cultural work that would later inform his public service.

After completing his army service, Irwin returned to Yale and graduated in 1951. While an undergraduate, he was active in athletics, playing rugby and soccer and swimming for the school team. He also taught Spanish at Yale while still a student, reflecting both his academic abilities and his fluency in the language acquired during his years in Latin America. On August 23, 1952, he married Mary Stapleton; together they had four children: Patrick (born 1953), Marion, Lucy (born 1959), and Stephen (born 1960). Irwin continued his studies at Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1954. He was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Connecticut, establishing the professional foundation for his later political career.

Irwin first entered public life at the local level in Norwalk, Connecticut, where he served as a member of the Norwalk Board of Education. His work on the board introduced him to municipal governance and education policy and helped build his reputation in the community. He remained active in civic and fraternal organizations, including membership in the Knights of Columbus and the Jaycees, further broadening his local connections and public profile.

Irwin was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1959, to January 3, 1961, representing Connecticut’s 4th congressional district. His initial term in Congress coincided with the closing years of the Eisenhower administration and the beginning of the Kennedy era. During this time, he participated in the democratic process as a member of the House of Representatives and represented the interests of his constituents in matters of national policy. He was a delegate from Connecticut to the Democratic National Convention in 1960. Irwin was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1960 to the Eighty-seventh Congress, but he remained closely involved in public service at the federal and state levels.

In 1961, Irwin was appointed general counsel of the United States Information Agency, where he served in a key legal and advisory role during the early 1960s, a period marked by Cold War tensions and expanding U.S. public diplomacy efforts. In 1962, Governor John N. Dempsey appointed him treasurer of the State of Connecticut. He served as state treasurer from 1961 to 1963, overseeing the financial affairs of the state and gaining further executive and administrative experience. Irwin returned to elective office when he was elected to the Eighty-ninth and Ninetieth Congresses, serving again in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1969. His service in Congress during these years placed him in the midst of the Great Society legislative period and the escalation of the Vietnam War. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1968 to the Ninety-first Congress and subsequently resumed the practice of law.

Irwin continued his public career at the municipal level when he was elected mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut, in November 1971, defeating incumbent Jacob Rudolf. As mayor, he oversaw city governance during a time of urban change and was reelected in 1973, demonstrating continued local support for his leadership. He chose not to be a candidate for reelection in 1975 and returned once more to private life and the practice of law, maintaining his longstanding ties to the Norwalk community.

In his later years, after ending his formal political career, Irwin remained active in local affairs and education. He involved himself in teaching in the Norwalk area and served as a permanent substitute teacher at Brien McMahon High School between 1995 and 2000, reflecting his enduring interest in public education and youth. He also became a grandfather to eleven grandchildren. His son Patrick had two children, Ana and Thomas Irwin; his daughter Marion had two children, Homer and Mary Turgeon; his daughter Lucile (Lucy) had three children, Ella, Stuart, and Owen Christoph; and his youngest son, Stephen, had four children, Jay, Matthew, Luke, and Elizabeth Irwin.

Donald Jay Irwin died of heart problems on July 7, 2013, at the age of 86. His life encompassed service as a soldier, lawyer, educator, congressman, state treasurer, and mayor, and his career reflected sustained engagement in public service at the local, state, and national levels.