Son of former Chelsea councillor Stan Troisi is on the Peabody ballot Tuesda™y, Nov. 4
When the interest in Chelsea politics wasfervent in the 1980s and elections were drawing substantial voter turnouts, Stanley Troisi was a major force.
The son of Constantino “Babe” Troisi and Helen Troisi and a popular student during his years at Chelsea High School, Stanley served as Ward 1 alderman from 1983 to 1988. He later served as District 1 councilor from 1994 to 2009.
Stanley Troisi was known for speaking out with vigor at public meetings for his constituents. He was personable, knowledgeable, and accessible, a strong advocate for seniors, and respected by everyone, and Chelsea voters rewarded him with several election victories. In recognition of his sterling career in city government, Stanleywas the recipient of the Chelsea citizen of the year award.
Stanley is back in the political arena providing support and encouragement to his son, MikeTroisi, who is a candidate for the Ward 2 seat on the Peabody City Council in the Nov. 4 election.
Stanley said he’s very proud of his son, who has been conducting an old-school style of campaigning, often accompanied on the trail by his wife and children.
“Mike’s being working very hard – he’s doing all the old-style campaign door-to-doorknocking, holding signs – and I’m hoping he wins,” said Stanley.
Mike Troisi brings an impressive record of community service into his first campaign for office.
“Because he is an auditor, when Mike joined the PTA for both of his kids’ school, he always ends up being the treasurer for the organization,” noted Stanley. “He’s a coach in Peabody Youth Hockey and Peabody Little League Baseball, so he gets to meet a lot of the parents. He’s very community oriented. He volunteers for a lot of projects such as door-to-door food distribution, and his son accompanies him in those endeavors. Mike’s trying to teach his son to be community spirited.”
A Chelsea upbringing
The son of Stanley Troisi and Donna Troisi, Mike Troisi grew up in Chelsea and attended Saint Stanislaus School (K-3) and St. Rose School (Grades 4-8).
“I played in Chelsea Little League and Chelsea Youth Hockey,” recalled Mike. “My coach in Little League was Kenny Flynn. In youth hockey, my coaches were Dan Irgens and my uncle, Andy [Troisi], (a well-known former CHS standout athlete. And it was Jimmy Dwyer who taught me how to skate.”
Mike served on the student council at Pope John XXIII High School, where he was a member of the golf team. Continuing in student government in college, he served in the senate at UMass/Amherst, receiving his degree in Economics in 2004.
Inspired by his father
Michael said he was influenced in a positive manner by his father Stanley’s public service. He remembers being at Chelsea council meetings at City Hall and taking pride in his father’s dedication to the city and its residents.
“My father has inspired me a lot,” said Mike. “Just seeing all he got to experience as a public official, all the ideas he implemented in Chelsea, the behind-the-scenes stuff he did to help people, all the friends he made in the community and the friendships he still has with other former Chelsea councilors.”
Now 43, Mike Troisi said he decided it was time to take the plunge into his first political campaign.
“There was an open seat, and I’ve always been interested in city government, so I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and help out,” said Mike. “It’s more like public service than a job for me, really.”
At a recent campaign event for Mike Troisi in Peabody, there was a significant Chelsea presence. Former Alderman and City Councilor Stephen Powers, who helped build S & L Subs into a culinary gem in Chelsea, was in attendance, accompanied by his wife, JudyPowers, and their daughter, former Chelsea High School cheerleader Annie Powers Baker. Also making the trek to Peabody was John McBride, oldest son of long-time Chelsea School Committeewoman and Kiwanis Club member, the late Elizabeth McBride.
Chelsea residents, past and present, appreciate the immense contributions that Stanley Troisi made to the city, and they’re no doubt rooting for Mike Troisi to win the election Tuesday and carry on the family’s legacy of public service in Peabody.