D’Allesandro announces retirement: ‘There comes a time in a journey when there’s an end’

MANCHESTER, NH – With an uncharacteristic quaver in his voice Sen. Lou D’Allesandro on Tuesday announced his retirement from public service and bid an emotional farewell to his colleagues at the Legislative Office Building in Concord.

“It’s been a journey, and there comes a time in a journey when there’s an end – nobody lives forever, and you can’t stay beyond the time when you can make a difference, and I believe that my service in the Senate has made a difference in the lives of people,” D’Allesandro said while seated at the podium to a sustained ovation, his wife Patricia by his side.

D’Allessandro, who turns 86 on July 30, has served in some capacity as a public official since the early 1970s. His career has been focused on education – including playing and coaching sports, and has served on countless boards, his lifelong commitment to governance and education earning him many honorary degrees and commendations.

In 2018 he penned a book, “Lion of the New Hampshire Senate and Thoughts for Presidential Hopefuls,” detailing his colorful decades of political experiences.

Shortly after D’Allesandro’s public announcement, the NH Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley released the following:

“Over the course of 52 years, Lou D’Allesandro always stayed true to his core value of putting people first. Lou never hesitated to reach out to help make the lives of people better. NH has never had a more dedicated public servant.

“I have known Lou for 48 years, and I can honestly say that nobody has served the people of New Hampshire better. All New Hampshire Democrats thank Lou for his 52 years of outstanding service and wish him many years ahead with his beloved wife Pat and his whole family.”

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Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig weighed in via the social media platform X:

“Lou has always put himself in service of others, as a teacher, coach and Senator. His legacy is defined by the countless people he helped and I’m lucky enough to call him a friend and mentor. Lou and Pat deserve to enjoy every moment of this next step. Thank you, Lou!”

AFL-CIO President, Glenn Brackett, released the following statement:

“New Hampshire has never had a public servant like Senator Lou D’Allesandro. New Hampshire working families have never had a greater ally in the Senate than Senator D’Allesandro. Lou has stood in Solidarity with New Hampshire working families for decades and has always fought for the betterment of workers throughout his long and storied career as a teacher, coach, author, and legislator. The New Hampshire organized labor community has been fortunate enough to have a strong and unbreakable bond with the Dean, which is why he was awarded the New Hampshire AFL-CIO’s inaugural Solidarity Award for Lifetime Achievement at our 2023 Labor Day Breakfast. He has been tireless in his efforts to stand up to big corporations and never forgets about the struggles of the American worker.

We have been lucky to call him a friend and wish him, his wonderful wife Patricia (IBEW member), and the whole D’Allesandro family a relaxing, enjoyable, and well-deserved retirement. It is always a Great American Day when you are with Senator D’Allesandro.”

NH Senate President Donna Soucy also released a statement, echoing D’Allessandro’s signature catch-phrase by wishing him “A Great American Day”:

“Our Dean, the Lion of the Senate, Senator Lou D’Allesandro, is an incomparable pillar and institution of public servicve in the state of New Hampshire. Having known him since the 1980s I can say unequivocally, no one has been as dedicated to serving Granite Staters as he has.

“From his time on the Executive Council, the Manchester School Board, Manchester Water Works, and Dean of the NH State Senate, Lou has always been there as a source of wisdom and integrity for all of us. His door has always been open to constituents, legislators, activists and all who approach his door, willing to do whatever he can to help. As a teacher and a coach he has touched the lives of thousands and servced as a mentor to many.

“His shoes are the ones that can never be filled and his announcment today truly rings bittersweet. As Lou and his family set off on this next chapter I know that public service will still remain his North Star and we will see him continue to serve our great state. And so, as this is not goodbye, I will simply express my incalculable gratidue for his kindness, guidance and service over the years, and wish him and his family ‘A Great American Day’.”

U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) released the following statement, sharing a similar tone as Soucy.

“Lou D’Allesandro has been a tireless advocate for working families in New Hampshire for decades, and I’m honored to have called him a friend and mentor for years. In addition to being a legislator, Lou is an educator, a coach, a dedicated public servant, and, of course, husband to Pat. His legacy is as much the bills he has passed and the laws that bear his name as the generations of young men and women he has taught, coached, and mentored, leaving a lasting impression on them all. New Hampshire’s working families and middle class have had no greater champion than Lou D’Allesandro, and his work to improve public education, create jobs, and strengthen our economy will be felt for decades to come. I join all Granite Staters in thanking Senator D’Allesandro for his service and wish him a Great American Day.”

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement.

“New Hampshire’s State House will not be the same without Senator Lou D’Allesandro’s voice booming through its halls. For more than half a century, Lou has served his fellow Granite Staters as a State Representative, a Member of the Executive Council, and as the ‘Lion of the New Hampshire Senate.’ Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Lou learns quickly why he has been such an effective legislator for decades. He takes the time to remember every new face he meets, he is deeply engaged in the community, and he does not let party lines stand in the way of progress. When we worked to expand Medicaid during my time as Governor, I appreciated his years of experience in helping find common ground. He has been a champion for New Hampshire’s young people in particular – supporting our colleges and universities, public education, student athletic programs, child welfare, and much more. I deeply appreciate everything that Lou and his wife, Pat, have given in service of making our state a better place for everyone. While his time in elected office may be coming to an end, I know that Lou’s decades of public service will remembered for years to come.”

NH Senate President Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) also released a statement

“Senator Lou D’Allesandro has dedicated decades of his life to public service. As the Dean of the Senate said himself, he worked tirelessly to ensure that things were better under his tenure. My colleagues and I had the esteemed privilege of serving with him. While some served with him longer than others, he’s left his mark on everyone that he meets. While we will be waiting to see ‘more D’Allesandro’, the entire Senate thanks him for his service to the Granite State. Everyone will miss the passion he has always held for public service. Captain Lou will be missed, and we wish him and Pat a happy and healthy retirement.”