UMass ALS Champion Fund

It wasn’t long after former Governor Paul Cellucci was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that he discovered a new calling, one that fits with his long history of public service as an elected official and diplomat. He was so impressed with the work of his doctor, Robert H. Brown Jr., DPhil, MD, chair and professor of neurology at UMass Medical School, that he pledged to help raise money to support Dr. Brown’s research.

“It was clear to me after the first couple of appointments with Dr. Brown, that I was probably with the best person in the world to be treating ALS,” said Cellucci. “He’s just someone who will leave no stone unturned in trying to help his patients. I was very impressed with that and I told him early on I would like to help raise money for his research to continue.”

Cellucci, a native of Hudson, Mass., has kept an active work schedule and has enjoyed a “quiet, private life” with his family since leaving public office after 35 years. However, his leadership in this effort to raise money to support Brown’s research has energized him to re-enter public life.

“The funds that will be raised will directly help Dr. Brown in his work and I can’t think of a better place to put some money,” he said. “Dr. Brown will not rest. . . . He wants to find a cure. I am so proud to be helping him, raising funds, so that he can continue his ground breaking research that is giving hope—realistic hope—to people living with ALS.”

Following graduation from the Boston College School of Management in 1970, Cellucci became active in local government, entered law school and joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He graduated from Boston College Law School in 1973 and continued to serve in the Reserves, earning an honorable discharge at the captain's rank in 1978. He also worked in his family's automobile dealership and pursued a private legal practice in Hudson. In 1976, Cellucci was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he served until 1984, when he began three terms in the state senate.

Cellucci was elected as Gov. William Weld’s Lieutenant Governor in 1990 and was sworn in as Governor to complete the remainder of Gov. Weld's term of office in 1997. He was elected Governor in his own right in 1998. A strong advocate for smaller government and lower taxes, as Governor, Cellucci proposed a reduction in the Massachusetts' income tax on his first day in office. During his 10-year tenure in the executive office, he was a leader in education reform, increased access to health care, the fight against domestic violence and cutting taxes.

In 2001, President George W. Bush named him U.S. Ambassador to Canada. In his role as ambassador, Cellucci served for four years to strengthen and grow the trading relationship between the United States and Canada, expedite border crossings for commercial and passenger vehicles, continue the integration of the North American energy market, and help resolve trade disputes. These responsibilities were particularly challenging to address following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when security immediately became the ambassador’s top priority.

When Cellucci left his post at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, he returned to work in the private sector focusing on U.S.-Canada initiatives that continue to strengthen the economies of these two nations, the largest bi-lateral economic relationship in the world.