Biography

11/22/1912 - 09/27/1977

Frank Odin Mazzei (D43) Allegheny (Part) County 1967-1975

Early Life:

Frank Odin Mazzei, born November 22, 1912, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; son of Domenico and Concetta Cardiello Mazzei; captain, 17th ward, South Side, Pittsburgh; clerk, paymaster, Allegheny County Workhouse; alternate delegate, Pennsylvania, Democratic National Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964; married, Grace Deeley Mazzei, son Dominic Francis Mazzei; member, Knights of Columbus; died, September 27, 1977 (aged 64), cancer, Magee-Womens Hospital, Oakland, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; interment, Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, McMurray, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Captain, 17th ward, South Side, Pittsburgh; clerk, paymaster, Allegheny County Workhouse.

Alternate delegate, Pennsylvania, Democratic National Convention, 1956, 1960, 1964.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 43rd senatorial district, Allegheny (Part) County, Special Election, 1967, filled, vacancy, John Devlin, death; known for being the main force behind the creation, Pennsylvania Lottery System; service terminated, extortion, June 2, 1975. James Romanelli, seated November 17, 1975.

Legacy:

First member expelled, extortion. Found guilty of taking $20,000 for lease of state office space in his district. Conviction, upheld, United States Supreme Court. Federal Prison, December 1975, released, March 14, 1977, seriously ill, cancer.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Wednesday, September 28, 1977. 

New York Times, The (New York, New York) Wednesday, September 28, 1977, Page 35.

Frank Mazzei (1912-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial