Former Congressman Dead at Age 88

Hundreds of lawmakers are elected to various positions each year at local, state, and federal levels. Some go by the wayside without making much of an impact, but others stand out for their accomplishments. Former Rep. Ronald Sarasin (R-CT) has a storied history in Congress, but it’s what he did after that has people remembering him following his recent death.

On March 27, Sarasin died at his McLean, Virginia, home at the age of 88. Sarasin was born in Massachusetts but grew up in and served his time in Congress, representing Connecticut’s 5th district. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War and then returned home to finish law school. He entered the world of politics in 1969 when he was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. He served there from 1969 to 1973, then moved on to the US House after winning the election in 1972.

Sarasin was elected to two more two-year terms in 1974 and 1976, then made a bid for Connecticut governor. He won the Republican nomination but lost to Ella Grasso (D), who remained in the role until 1980.

After his tenure in the government, Sarasin stayed busy, with stints in the National Beer Wholesalers Association and National Restaurant Association. But, he truly seemed to have found his home as CEO of the US Capitol Historical Society. He held the role from 2000 to 2018, and during this time, he made it a focus to create educational programs that centered on the Capitol, raising awareness of the building’s history, including “document[ing] the role of enslaved labor” in building it, according to the society’s remembrance post. He spent 18 years in the post, and the society has said it will miss his input.

Sarasin is survived by his wife, Leslie, and his two sons, Douglas and Michael. Funeral services will be held on May 20 in Washington, DC.