He’s officially the governor. Dan Malloy was sworn in at the Armory in Hartford by the Honorable Gerald Fox, the same person who swore Malloy into office as mayor of Stamford years ago.
The ceremony was marked with poignant moments. One of the most memorable of those was when Mary Fox sang the ballad “Danny Boy” to the new governor.
“Gov.-elect Malloy,” she said, “Your bride asked me to sing this to you and it is my singular pleasure,” to do so. “Oh Danny Boy, I love you so.”
Tony and Suzanne Peters, of Stamford
Tony Peters, a 20-year resident of Stamford and close friend to Malloy, said Kathy Malloy requesting the song shows what kind of couple they are.
As Malloy delivered his speech, he choked up when he talked about his mother pushing him to do his best despite his learning disability.
Peter’s wife, Suzanne, said that Malloy has Dyslexia himself helps him understand children’s needs, and credited him for being a key driver of establishing school readiness programs in Stamford that went on to be a model for the state.
“He will get the focus on early childhood education back,” Suzanne Peters said.
Dick Allen, a Connecticut State Poet Laureate, read an adaptation of the poem “Intuition.”
An excerpt:
“Its not in your face
It says in quiet tones I will help you
It drives an ordinary car on ordinary roads
Into the flames no one else will see for many years.
…
I will help you, it whispers in the hallways of power
I will help you. I will lift you up.”
After the ceremony, Malloy was off to the Capitol building to address the Connecticut General Assembly.
And Tony and Suzanne went to prepare for the Inaugural Ball later that night.
“My dress is purple with glitter,” Suzanne said. “I love glitter.”