FOR FOUR MONTHS NEXT SUMMER. A BEACON HILL CHAMPION FOR EDUCATION AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE, HAS PASSED. THOMAS BIRMINGHAM IS 73 YEARS OLD. THE DEMOCRAT SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FROM 1996 TO 2002. HE WAS ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2002. A CHELSEA NATIVE, HE IS OFTEN MENTIONED AS A DRIVER OF THE EDUCATION REFORM ACT OF 1993 GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, ‘Though he passed through halls of power and privilege, he stayed true to his roots and never forgot where he came from or what matters
Former Massachusetts Senate Speaker Thomas Birmingham dies at 73
Thomas Birmingham, a former president of the Massachusetts Senate who was known as a champion of education, has died at the age of 73. Birmingham, a Democrat, served as president of the state Senate from 1996 to 2002. He was also a gubernatorial candidate in his final year in office. The Chelsea native is often hailed as one of the driving forces behind Massachusetts’ landmark bill known as the Education Reform Act of 1993. “Senate President Thomas Birmingham was an incredible public servant who was committed to moving Massachusetts forward.” He had a commanding intellect and curiosity and an ability to connect with a range of people. Although he passed through places of power and privilege, he stayed true to his roots and never forgot where he came from or what mattered,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement. “His legacy includes introducing the Education Reform Act of 1993 which established our schools as a model of excellence for the nation, upholding workers’ rights and upholding marriage equality. His passing is a great loss to the Commonwealth and my heart goes out to his wife Selma, daughters and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.”Birmingham was a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Thomas Birmingham, a former speaker of the Massachusetts Senate who was known as a champion of education, has died aged 73.
Birmingham, a Democrat, served as President of the State Senate from 1996 to 2002. He was also a gubernatorial candidate during his final year in office.
The Chelsea native is often hailed as one of the driving forces behind Massachusetts’ landmark bill known as the Education Reform Act of 1993.
“Senate President Thomas Birmingham was an incredible public servant who was dedicated to moving Massachusetts forward. He had impressive intelligence and curiosity and an ability to connect with a range of people. Although he passed through places of power and privilege, he stayed true to his roots and never forgot where he came from or what mattered,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement. “His legacy includes ushering in the Education Reform Act of 1993 which established our schools as a model of excellence for the nation, upholding workers’ rights and championing marriage equality. His death is a great loss to the Commonwealth and my heart goes out to his wife Selma, daughters and grandchildren, he will be greatly missed.
Birmingham was a Rhodes Scholar and a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Comments are closed.