In memory of Governor Argeo Paul Cellucci

Paul Cellucci's portrait,
painted by Ronald Sherr

 This Thursday, June 13th, the body of former Governor Argeo Paul Cellucci will lie in state at the Massachusetts State House. Cellucci died Saturday at the age of 65 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. A Hudson native, Cellucci lived a life dedicated to public service. He was a member of the Massachusetts General Court for 14 years, serving in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1985 and in the Senate from 1985 to 1991. He was next elected Lieutenant Governor in 1991, serving in that capacity under Governor William Weld from 1991 to 1997. When Weld resigned in 1997, Cellucci served as acting Governor until he was elected Governor in 1999. He left the governorship to become ambassador to Canada in 2001.

The public viewing period will be from 2:30 to 7:00 in the Hall of Flags. This marks only the twelfth time an official has lain in state at the State House. Others to lie in state were:

March, 1874  Charles Sumner, served in the US Senate (1851 to 1874)

July 22 or 23, 1905  Wilmon W. Blackmar, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient and Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (1904-05)

July 24, 1906  Brigadier General Edmund Rice, and Civil War Medal of Honor recipient

April 18, 1911  William M. Olin, Massachusetts Secretary of State (1892-1911)

April 8, 1915  Curtis Guild, former Governor (1906-1909)

Feb. 14-15, 1931  Major General Clarence R. Edwards

Nov. 13-14, 1958 James M. Curley, former Governor (1935-1937)

Jan. 8 - 9, 1994  Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr., former Speaker of the US House of Representatives  and former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Oct. 27, 1998  Francis Sargent, former Governor (1969-1975)

May 31, 2001  John Joseph Moakley, served in the US House of Representatives (1973-2001)

Sept. 22-23, 2006  Edward J. King, former Governor (1979-1983)

March 11, 2009  George Keverian, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives