Lou Rell

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Lou Rell
First Gentleman of Connecticut
In role
July 1, 2004 – January 5, 2011
GovernorJodi Rell
Preceded byPatty Rowland (First Lady)
Succeeded byCathy Malloy (First Lady)
Personal details
Born
Louis Robert Rell

(1940-11-19)November 19, 1940
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 22, 2014(2014-03-22) (aged 73)
Pensacola Beach, Florida, U.S.
Spouse
​
(m. 1967)​
Children2
OccupationPilot

Louis Robert Rell (November 19, 1940 – March 22, 2014) was an American

First Gentleman of Connecticut from 2004 to 2011.[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life

Rell was born Louis R. Rell in 1940 in

née White) Rell.[4]

Career

Rell served in the

airline pilot for Trans World Airlines (TWA).[1] They then moved north to a 19th-century, clapboard farmhouse in Brookfield, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. Brookfield is popular with airline pilots based in New York City.[1]

Jodi Rell entered politics as a campaign worker for Rep. David Smith, an

Eastern Airlines pilot and member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Smith declined to seek re-election to a fifth term in the state House in 1984 and encouraged Jodi Rell to run to succeed him. Rell was elected in 1984. Lou Rell privately and publicly supported his wife's political career.[1] He took leaves of absence from the airline during busy legislative sessions.[1]

Rell retired from commercial aviation. He soon launched a medical taxi business, which shuttled patients to medical appointments.[1] He also served as a Brookfield police commissioner, as well as a firefighter and former president of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company.[2][5][6]

On July 1, 2004, then-

First Ladies and Gentlemen.[1][2][3] When a journalist asked Rell if he preferred to be called "the First Man, the First Husband, the First Gentleman" he replied, "Please, just call me Lou."[4]

He often declined interviews, though he usually appeared at official events with the Governor.[1] However, Rell played a key role behind-the-scenes as a political adviser to his wife's administration.[1][3] Christopher Keating, a political reporter with the Hartford Courant, has called Rell "a sharp student of politics who understood the nuances of the political game in the state of Connecticut."[3] Jodi Rell was elected to a full term in landslide in 2006.[1]

Rell suffered from

Barrett's Disease, a reflux disease which causes inflammation of the esophagus.[3] He underwent surgery to remove a stage 1 cancerous growth from his esophagus in November 2007.[1][3] The surgery largely sidelined Rell from active politics while he recovered at his home in Brookfield.[1] However, he returned to his public role at the Connecticut Governor's Residence in Hartford following his recovery.[3] Rell struck up discussions of his diagnosis (and other issues) with Connecticut House Speaker James Amann (D), who suffered from the same disease.[3][7] In 2008, Lou Rell fell suffered a health setback from an undisclosed illness, which caused Governor Rell to cancel plans to attend the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[1] Lou Rell was reportedly disappointed with his inability to attend the convention, as he was a public supporter of Republican Sen. John McCain, who was also a U.S. Naval pilot.[1]

Governor Rell left office in January 2011. The Rells returned to their Brookfield farmhouse, which they soon sold to their daughter, Meredith O'Connor.

restoration of aircraft in the museum's collection.[4] He attended the unveiling of his wife's official gubernatorial portrait at the Connecticut State Library in September 2013.[1]

Lou Rell died from cancer at his home in

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, former Governor John G. Rowland and members of the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company.[6]

References

  1. ^
    Connecticut Mirror
    . Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  2. ^
    Seattle Times. Associated Press
    . Retrieved 2004-05-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Keating, Christopher (2014-03-23). "CT Mourns Passing of Lou Rell, Husband of Former Governor Jodi Rell". Hartford Courant Capitol Watch. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  4. ^ a b c "Louis Robert Rell". Bucks County Courier Times. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  5. ^
    NBC Connecticut
    . 2014-03-23. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  6. ^ a b c d Tuz, Susan (2014-03-29). "Lou Rell bid goodbye in life celebration". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  7. ^ Keating, Christopher (2009-11-10). "Jim Amann: Lou Rell Must Be One Of Happiest In The State". Hartford Courant Capitol Watch. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Patty Rowland
First Spouse of Connecticut

2004 – 2011 		Succeeded by
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