On January 22, 2025, the League of Women Voters of Connecticut and Capitol Information and Tours celebrated the historic inauguration of Governor Ella T. Grasso. Governor Grasso was first sworn in as Governor of Connecticut fifty years ago on January 8, 1975. With her inauguration, she became the first woman to be elected Governor in Connecticut, first Italian-American Governor in Connecticut, and first woman in the United States to be elected Governor in her own right.

The celebration was held in Memorial Hall at the Connecticut State Library where Governor Grasso's official portrait hangs. LWVCT Co-President Dr. Peggy Lampkin kicked off the event by sharing a few lessons we can all learn from Governor Grasso. She reflected that "Ella Grasso dedicated her life to the social, political, and economic advancement of all people in our state...Ella's legacy challenges us to pursue whatever that looks like for each of us and to never quit." 

The keynote speaker was Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz who wrote the first biography of Governor Grasso called "Ella: A Biography of Governor Ella Grasso." She shared stories that illustrated how special Ella's tenure as Governor was and a personal memory of Governor Grasso speaking at a girls' program she attended. Lieutenant Governor Bysiewicz recalled how "there was a hush that fell, and I realized it was because Ella Grasso, who was the Governor at the time, was striding down the aisle to speak with us." The experience was one source of inspiration for the Lt. Governor's political aspirations. She concluded her remarks saying that, "I'm hoping that her life and legacy will continue to inspire the people of Connecticut and beyond."

Other speakers included State Representatives Jane Garibay and Bill Heffernan, Former State Senator and Representative Con O'Leary, and Former State Representative Carl Schiessl who shared their memories and impressions of Governor Grasso. 

Attendees also had the unique opportunity to view items from Ella's life such as campaign posters, pins, a campaign hat, and the gavel she used at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. The items on display were generously loaned by the Museum of Connecticut History and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. 

Watch a recording of the event by CT-N below celebrating Ella, the first woman in the United States to be elected Governor in her own right, and the first woman Governor in Connecticut's history: