Fred Berry (politician)

Frederick E. Berry (December 20, 1949 – November 13, 2018) was a disability rights advocate and Democratic politician from Massachusetts, who served as a member of the Massachusetts Senate from 1983 to 2013. He served as majority leader of the state Senate from 2003 until his retirement in 2013.[1]

For other people named Fred Berry, see Fred Berry (disambiguation).
Frederick Berry
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Second Essex district
In office
1983–2013
Preceded byJohn G. King
Succeeded byJoan Lovely
Personal details
Born(1949-12-20)December 20, 1949
Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2018(2018-11-13) (aged 68)
Peabody, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Peabody, Massachusetts
Alma materBoston College
Antioch College
Berry answering a phone call

Biography

Frederick E. Berry was born in Peabody, Massachusetts on December 20, 1949. He was a graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School, Boston College (in 1972) and Antioch College, M. Ed. (1974).

After graduating from college, Berry joined VISTA. He was assigned to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he worked with several nonprofits over a 15-month period.[2]

Born with cerebral palsy, Berry returned to Massachusetts and became the director of Heritage Industries, a division of Northeast Arc, which provided employment and job training for those with disabilities.[1]

Before his election to the Senate, Berry was a Peabody City Council member (1979–1983)

Berry, representing Essex County in the State Senate from 1983, was previously Second Assistant Majority Floor Leader (1991–1994) and Assistant Majority Floor Leader (1995–1996), before becoming Majority Leader himself in 2003.[3]

Berry retired from the Senate in 2013.[4] In his retirement, Berry returned to work part-time at Northeast Arc as an ambassador to area businesses.[1][5]

Berry died on November 13, 2018 at the age of 68.[6][7]

See also

References
  1. Forman, Ethan. "Former senator Berry hired at Northeast Arc". Salem News. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  2. Andersen, Travis (November 13, 2018). "Former state senator Frederick Berry, tireless advocate for the disabled, dies at 68". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  3. Our Campaigns.com-Frederick E. Berry
  4. McCabe, Kathy (September 20, 2012). "Salem State to name new library for Fred Berry". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  5. Leighton, Paul. "Born with cerebral palsy, Fred Berry served 30 years in state senate". Salem News. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  6. "Former state senator Frederick Berry, tireless advocate for the disabled, dies at 68 - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  7. "Frederick E. Berry-obituary". Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2018-11-15.


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