Sam Gejdenson: “I rise today first as a senior member of the Connecticut delegation to give our condolences to a colleague, the…”

“I rise today first as a senior member of the Connecticut delegation to give our condolences to a colleague, the gentlewoman from Connecticut, Barbara Kennelly, who lost her husband this weekend. Jim Kennelly was my speaker when I was first elected to the State House in 1975. Speaker Kennelly was one of the individuals that every Member, Republican and Democrat, respected for his incredible knowledge of the rules of the House. In every legislative opportunity, Speaker Kennelly really showed his brilliance. As a legislator, he was second to no one. He held such a commanding presence on legislative matters in the State House. Mr. Speaker, I think that of all those 151 Members that served those two sessions that I served in the Connecticut General Assembly with Speaker Kennelly, it was clear he was felt to be the most brilliant Member of the body, the most dedicated public servant working late into the night. We are going to miss Jim, and we obviously feel for our colleague and friend, Barbara Kennelly. I will miss Jim Kennelly, and I pain for my colleague and friend, Barbara Kennelly.”