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    Vento, Bruce Frank

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1971-72 (District 44A) ; House 1973-1976 (District 66A)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/7/1940
    Birth Place: Saint Paul, Minnesota
    Birth County: Ramsey
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 10/10/2000
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Paul
    Occupation (when first elected): High School Teacher, Social Studies and Science, Minneapolis Public Schools

    EDUCATION

    St. Paul Parochial Schools; Elementary School;
    Johnson High School, St. Paul; Secondary; Graduate
    St. Thomas College; Attended College; 1958-1959
    University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; A.A.; Minneapolis Campus, 1961
    Wisconsin State University, River Falls; B.S.; Secondary Education, Biology and Political Science; 1965
    University of Minnesota; M.E.; 1966

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Educational Council; 1971 to 1976
    State Board/Commission/Council: Commission on Minnesota Future; 1973 to 1976
    U.S. Representative: 4th Congressional District, Minnesota; 01/03/1977 to 10/10/2000 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Mary Jean Moore (while in office); Susan Lynch (remarried in August 2000)
    Children: Three children: Michael, Peter, and John (sons, with Mary Jean)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    He was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi and Tri Beta Honor Societies.

    He died, of pleural mesothelioma (lung) cancer from asbestos exposure, at home in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Maplewood, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2191

    SESSIONS SERVED

    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 66A
    Elected: 11/5/1974
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Teacher, Social Studies and Science, Minneapolis Public Schools
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: School Aids Division
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Chair)
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 66A
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Teacher, Social Studies and Science, Minneapolis Public Schools
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Governmental Operations
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 44A
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: High School Teacher, Social Studies and Science, Minneapolis Public Schools
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • City Government
    • Environmental Preservation
    • Higher Education
    • Judiciary
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Gordon, Greg and Tom Hamburger. "A Champion Until the End (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 11, 2000.

    Vento, Bruce Frank. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


    Archive Collections
    Bruce F. Vento Papers, 1974-2000 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.
    Bruce F. Vento Scrapbooks, 1976-1990 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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