Memorial Service for Tom scheduled for Saturday January 7, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 175 Mathewson Street, Providence.
Thomas S. LaFauci, a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffer, gifted speech writer and aide to such top Democratic political figures as Joe Biden, John Kerry, Thomas Foley and Bob Menendez, died last night at Rhode Island Hospital after being stricken at home in Cranston. He was 67.
He has been battling an unusual lung disorder recently, but his death was unexpected, said his widow, Elizabeth `Libby’ Rock.
LaFauci was known for his wit, love of language and his elegant writing style. He was that rare political speechwriter who understood the substance of policy issues. “His depth and scope of knowledge was extraordinary,’’ said Menendez in an interview.
“I am very sad,’’ said Menendez. “He was the one person who could convey the thoughts that I wanted to drive home. Through his words he allowed us to make our ideas and our ideals soar.’’
A passionate liberal, LaFauci was a gentleman in a business where not everyone is. Menendez recalled his love of dinners with LaFauci, a consummate conversationalist with a deep knowledge of literature, history and political topics. “He could talk about just about anything. And he was a passionate man.’’
As many friends, colleagues and political figures learned over the years, he was a grand dinner or after hours companion, a raconteur of wit and erudition who enjoyed the occasional martini, whether at the old Leo’s on Chestnut Street in Providence or at Capitol Hill haunts.
A son of Providence, Menendez recalled LaFauci’s deep political insights and how well he understand the shifting landscape of politics in the nation’s capital and especially the Senate. An accomplished cook, Menendez recalled LaFauci’s stories about working with other Democratic leaders, from Ted Kennedy to Kerry and “how he cooked pasta for John Kerry and Teresa Heinz.’’
Said U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a longtime LaFauci friend, “Tom was one of the great unsung heroes of politics here in Rhode Island and an important voice on the national stage. He was a trusted adviser to Joe Biden, John Kerry and many others. They all benefited from his talents as a wordsmith who could cut through policy and really connect with an audience.
“Tom was a dear friend and wise counselor. His humor and generous spirit always made your day better. His friendship sustained and uplifted me. My heartfelt condolences to his many friends and loved ones, particularly his beloved Libby.”
Said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, “He was a talented man who understood that in the business of governing, words matter. Tom humbly served a number of our country’s top leaders but he always looked out for his Rhode Island friends down in Washington and I was happy to benefit from his advice and wisdom.”
LaFauci made writing look easy, even though it obviously wasn’t. He was as fast as a reporter on deadline; he could finish a speech revision within moments of loading it into a teleprompter, which happened with a speech Kerry gave at the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
LaFauci lived a Rhode Island life. A scion of Italian immigrants, he was raised on Federal Hill in Providence, where he lived on the bottom floor of a triple-decker. His grandmother lived on the top floor. He was educated at Fordham University and held a master’s degree in English Literature from New York University, where he wrote his thesis on the poetry of Wordsworth. He began his career in politics writing legislation at the state Energy Office during the administration of J. Joseph Garrahy. He had a lifelong belief in the potential of government to help people and give opportunity to those who needed a hand up. Besides political speech writing, his work appeared on newspaper op-ed pages, including the Providence Journal and the Boston Globe.
An accomplished cook, he and his wife Libby were grand hosts at brunches and holiday parties at their home in Cranston’s Edgewood neighborhood. He was known for detecting cant and cliche and insisting on fine language.
Said Tom Connell, who worked with LaFauci on a campaign for former Rhode Island Atty. Gen. James O’Neil, Lafauci was at his best at cutting through the “folderol” that too often passes for campaign rhetoric.
In the 1980s, LaFauci was a speechwriter and policy aide for then Providence mayor Joseph Paolino Jr. At the time, Tad Devine was Paolino’s chief of staff. “He was just an incredible speechwriter,’’ said Devine.
“He was a wonderful, talented guy, a very smart guy’’ recalled Devine. Many speechwriters are fluent with language, but LaFauci was revered because he “was someone who could deal with substance.’’
“I’m just so sorry to hear this,’’ said Devine.
Menendez recalled valuing LaFauci’s input on a speech he gave on Martin Luther King Jr. Day a couple of years ago. “He could speak to our better angels. He was so passionate.’’
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
