George A. Luciano

Raynham George A. Luciano, 81, of Raynham, formerly of South Easton and Cambridge, died Thursday, July 3, 2008, at his home under the care of his family and hospice. He was the husband of Dorothy (Gartner) Luciano for 49 years. Born in Somerville on July 17, 1927, a son of the late George and Sarah (Pagluci) Luciano, he was raised in Somerville and was a 1945 graduate of Somerville High School. He entered the military thereafter and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Navy. Upon discharge, he entered the Massachusetts Sate Police Academy. He was appointed in 1953 to the Massachusetts law enforcement position of Trooper with subsequent promotions over a ten year period. In 1963 he was promoted to the rank of Captain and was the Commanding Officer for Southeastern Mass. from 1963-1964. His position included Administration and operational coordination of all State Police activities and programs in the region as well as providing executive security in Hyannisport for President John F. Kennedy. He served as Executive Aide to Governor John A. Volpe, Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1961, 1962 and 1965. From 19651978 he was the State Superintendent of Buildings for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He served as executive administrator of major state facilities and he was responsible for the supervision of the Capital Police, the operation, security and maintenance of the State House and several high rise state office buildings as well as coordinating a key state agency comprised of 400 employees and its related operating budget. From 1979 1983 he was appointed Secretary of Public Safety Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As Cabinet Secretary for the Governor of the Commonwealth, he was responsible for the administration of eight major state government departments and served in a capacity as the Governors Chief Law Enforcement and Highway Safety Coordinator. His responsibilities included the executive supervision of the Mass. Dept. of Public Safety/State Police; Registry of Motor Vehicles; Committee on Criminal Justice; Criminal History Systems Board; Mass. Criminal Justice Training Council; Governors Highway Safety Bureau; Military Division; and the Division of Civil Defense. A Presidential appointee of President Ronald Reagan, he served on the National Highway Traffic Safety Advisory Committee from 1983-1986 and was an active participant in the Commissions policy discussions and recommendations to the President and the Department of Transportation. From 19871988, he was appointed the Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance in Washington, D.C. His position included the direction of and accountability for the Federal Governments Criminal Justice Grant In-Aid Programs to state and local governments and agencies to improve the functioning of the nations criminal justice system. In 1988 he was appointed Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Region 1 New England. George was the recipient of numerous citations and professional awards from the public and private sector. They are as follows; Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 1982; New England Narcotic Police Officers Award of Recognition, 1982; American Society of Industrial Security, 1980; The Dr. Enrico Fermi Gold Medal Award, presented by the Italian-American Civic League of America, 1980; Massachusetts Safety Conference Award of Recognition, awarded by the Massachusetts Safety Council, 1979; and the Man of the Year Award presented by the Boston Press Photographers Association, 1965. He was also a member of several professional affiliations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Association of Chiefs of Police, the United States Civil Defense Council and the American Society of Industrial Security. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Gordon D. Luciano and his wife Marcia of Raynham and Roy G. Luciano of West Bridgewater; five grandchildren, Anthony, Christine, Marissa, Meghan, and Caitlin; and one great-grandchild, Madison; he was also the brother of the late Joseph Luciano and Carl Luciano. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours Monday, July 7, from 3-8 p.m. in the Kane Funeral Home, 605 Washington St. (Rte.138), Easton. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. in St. Anns Church (Rte. 104), Raynham. Interment will follow in Pleasant Street Cemetery, Raynham. In lieu of flowers, donations in Georges memory may be sent to Hospice & Palliative Care of Raynham, 244 North Main St., Raynham, MA. 02767. For directions or condolences, visit www.kanefuneralhome.com.