Herbert F. DeSimone

Herbert F. DeSimone
Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the Environment and Urban System
In office
1971–1972
Appointed byRichard Nixon
64th Attorney General of Rhode Island
In office
1967–1971
GovernorJohn Chafee
Frank Licht
Preceded byJ. Joseph Nugent
Succeeded byRichard J. Israel
Personal details
Born(1929-09-05)September 5, 1929
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 2013(2013-11-27) (aged 84)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Resting placeSt. Francis Cemetery
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSally Reynolds DeSimone
ChildrenHerbert DeSimone
Douglas DeSimone
Deborah DeSimone
Parent(s)Florie DeSimone
Lena (Capuano) DeSimone
Residence(s)Providence, Rhode Island
Alma materLa Salle Academy
Brown University
Columbia University Law School
ProfessionAttorney
Politician

Herbert F. DeSimone (September 5, 1929 – November 27, 2013) was an American lawyer and politician from Rhode Island. He served as the 64th Attorney General of Rhode Island and as President Nixon's Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the Environment and Urban System.

Early life

DeSimone was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the only child of Florie DeSimone and Lena (Capuano) DeSimone.[1] He attended La Salle Academy before graduating from Brown University in 1951.[2] While at Brown, DeSimone played college football and was defensive tackle for the 1949 team that was inducted into the Brown University Hall of Fame.[3][4]

In 1954, he received his law degree from Columbia University Law School and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar.[5] He began the practice of law in Rhode Island.

Political career

As a Republican, DeSimone served as Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1967-1971.[6] He was the 1970 Republican nominee for Governor of Rhode Island but lost the election to Frank Licht.[7] Shortly after his defeat, President Richard Nixon nominated DeSimone to be assistant secretary of the United States Department of Transportation for Environment and Urban System.[8] He served in that position from 1971 to 1972.[9] In 1972 he ran for Governor of Rhode Island again against Philip W. Noel, and was defeated.[10][11] He then returned to the private practice of law.

In August 1976, President Gerald Ford nominated DeSimone to succeed Edward William Day as judge for the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island but United States Senator Edward Kennedy blocked the nomination.[12]

In 1985, DeSimone was appointed Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation by Governor Edward D. DiPrete.[13] He also served as Director of the Providence Industrial Development Corporation and General Counsel for the Rhode Island Housing and Finance Corporation.[14]

In 2002, he was awarded the Neil J. Houston Award for contributions to the Criminal Justice systems and Public Interest.[15] He was also awarded Man of the Year by Engineering News Record and Man of the Year by the Italo-American Club of Rhode Island.

DeSimone was a longtime advisor and mentor to Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci. Cianci started his career in DeSimone's Attorney General office, and worked on DeSimone's 1970 and 1972 gubernatorial campaigns.[16] DeSimone was present at Cianci's home the night in March 1983 when Cianci was accused of beating Raymond DeLeo.[17] DeSimone testified in Cianci's trial, in which Cianci pleaded no contest to assault and assault with a dangerous weapon.[17]

Personal life

DeSimone and his wife Sally Reynolds DeSimone had three children: Herbert DeSimone, Douglas DeSimone and Deborah DeSimone.

DeSimone died in Providence, Rhode Island on November 27, 2013.[13]

References

  1. ^ "In Memoriam" (PDF). Rhode Island Bar Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Notice to the Press" (PDF). Ford Library Museum. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Brown Football Team of 1949". The Official Site of Brown Athletics. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame". The Official Site of Brown Athletics. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. ^ "Notice to the Press" (PDF). Ford Library Museum. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  6. ^ Ray, Alex (2008). Hired Gun: A Political Odyssey. University Press of America. p. 25. ISBN 9780761840596.
  7. ^ Concedes defeat, Reading Eagle, November 15, 1970
  8. ^ Named to Post, Tuscaloosa News, February 11, 1971
  9. ^ Office of the White House Press Secretary-President Gerald Ford, August 4, 1976, Nomination of Herbert DeSimone
  10. ^ "Herbert DeSimone, former R.I. attorney general; at 84". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  11. ^ LaGumina, Salvatore J. and Cavaioli, Frank J. (1999). Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 5. ISBN 9781135583323.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Kennedy vote stalls naming of 3 judges, Bangor Daily News, September 17, 1976
  13. ^ a b "Herbert DeSimone, former R.I. attorney general, dies at 84". Providence Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "In Memoriam" (PDF). Rhode Island Bar Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "Neil J. Houston, Jr. Memorial Award Past Recipients" (PDF). Justice Assistance. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  16. ^ Stanton, Mike (8 Dec 2002). "Cianci 'a survivor in a wicked world'". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  17. ^ a b Stanton, Mike (12 Dec 2002). "Raymond DeLeo's nightmare on Power Street". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Rhode Island
1967–1971 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Attorney General of Rhode Island
1966, 1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Rhode Island
1970, 1972 		Succeeded by
James W. Nugent