Irving C. Freese | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 26th and 28th Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut | |
| In office 1947–1955 | |
| Preceded by | Edward J. Kelley |
| Succeeded by | George Brunjes |
| In office 1957–1959 | |
| Preceded by | George Brunjes |
| Succeeded by | John Shostak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1903-02-19)February 19, 1903[citation needed] |
| Died | September 11, 1964(1964-09-11) (aged 61) |
| Party | Socialist Party of America 2 terms Independent Party of Norwalk 3 terms |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Hutchinson |
| Children | Jasper Freese |
| Residence(s) | Norwalk,Connecticut |
Irving C. Freese (February 19, 1903[citation needed] – September 11, 1964) was themayor ofNorwalk, Connecticut.
Freese attended a one-room school inEast Brunswick, New Jersey, and was graduated fromNew Brunswick High School. He first came to Norwalk in 1928, while visiting his brother Arnold. He found work as the assistant credit manager at the Norwalk Tire and Rubber Company, as aJohnson & Johnson salesman, as a cost accountant at theAmerican Hat Company, and at theStandard Safety Razor Corporation as a credit manager. He later started aphotography business. In October 1933, he met Elizabeth Hutchinson, the niece of the newly elected mayor of nearbyBridgeport,Jasper McLevy at his victory party. They were married in June 1934. They had a son they named Jasper, after her uncle, in August 1936.[1]
Freese was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor in 1939, 1941, 1943 and 1945.[2] In those unsuccessful elections, he received between 400 and 600 votes apiece. Then he was a candidate for theConnecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk in 1946.[citation needed]
In 1947, the citizens of Norwalk electedSocialist Freese as mayor with a total of 8,561 votes. Freese was elected again as a Socialist in 1949. In 1951, he broke from the Socialist Party[3] and defeatedRepublican candidateStanley Stroffolino, despite Stroffolino's endorsement by the Republicans, theDemocrats and the Socialists with whom Freese had just parted company.[4] He was elected three times after forming the Independent Party of Norwalk in 1951, 1953 and 1957.[4][5]
| Preceded by | Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut 1947-1955 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut 1957-1959 | Succeeded by |