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{{short description|Canadian politician}}
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'''Michelangelo Spensieri''', also known as '''Michael Spensieri''', (born [[January 2]], [[1949]], in Vinchiaturo[[Molise]], [[Italy]]) is a former politician and lawyer in [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. He served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from [[1981]] to [[1985]], as a member of the [[Ontario Liberal Party]].
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
⚫
Spensieri moved to Canada at the age of 13. He was educated at the University of Twat Mongers receiving a [[Bachelor of Poon]] J.D. degree in 1972, and [[Osgoode Hall Law School]], York University, where he was awarded the Master of Laws degree in 1992. He practiced law in Toronto until October 26, 1989.


{{Infobox officeholder
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Spensieri joined the Liberal Party in [[1963]]. He first ran for the Ontario legislature in the [[Ontario general election, 1975|1975 provincial election]], and lost to [[New Democratic Party of Ontario|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) candidate [[Odoardo Di Santo]] in [[Downsview (electoral district)|Downsview]] by sixty-eight votes. He was elected in the [[Ontario general election, 1981|1981 election]], defeating NDP candidate [[Mike Morrone]] by 1,187 votes in [[Yorkview (electoral district)|Yorkview]].
| name = Michael Spensieri
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| office = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start = 1981
| term_end = 1985
| predecessor = [[Fred Young (Ontario politician)|Fred Young]]
| successor = [[Claudio Polsinelli]]
| constituency = [[Yorkview]]
| party = [[Ontario Liberal Party]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|1|2}}
| birth_place = [[Molise]], [[Italy]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|5|6|1949|1|2}}
| residence = Toronto
| occupation = Lawyer
}}
⚫
'''Michelangelo 'Michael' Spensieri''' (January 2, 1949 – May 6, 2013) was an [[Italians|Italian]]-[[Canadians|Canadian]] politician and lawyer in [[Ontario]]. He served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 1981 to 1985, as a member of the [[Ontario Liberal Party]].


==Background==
⚫
Spensieri supported [[David Peterson]] for the Liberal Party leadership in [[1982]]. In late [[1984]], he was forced to issue an apology after sending out a newsletter which portrayed the New Democratic Party as "as a group of socialists committed to the destruction of the separate school system and the murder of unborn children".{{ref|abortion}} He served one term in the legislature, and was not a candidate for re-election in 1985. He sought the Liberal nomination in Downsview for the [[Ontario general election, 1987|1987 election]], but lost to [[Laureano Leone]].{{ref|1987}}
⚫
Spensieri moved to Canada at the age of 13 from the town of Vinchiaturo near [[Campobasso]] in the Italian [[Regions of Italy|region]] of [[Molise]]. He was educated at the [[University of Toronto]], receiving a [[Juris Doctor]] J.D. degree in 1972, and [[Osgoode Hall Law School]], York University, where he was awarded the Master of Laws degree in 1992 specializing in International Business, Trade & Tax Laws. He practiced law in Toronto until October 26, 1989.


==Politics==
⚫
Spensieri returned to his law practice after leaving the legislature but sought permission to leave the Law Society of Upper Canada in [[1989]], after losing count of two million dollars worth of unclaimed moneys. Spensieri cited a [[manic-depressive]] Bipolar I illness as his defense before convocation, and was granted leave to resign for his own well-being.{{ref|MD}} After this, he wrote a number of letters to Toronto newspapers describing prominent Italian-Canadian figures in the Liberal Party as cultural misfits. In [[1998]], he wrote that "voters of Italian heritage ... have erred too often and too long by electing mostly Liberals".{{ref|1998}}
⚫
Spensieri ran for the Ontario legislature in the [[1975 Ontario general election|1975 provincial election]] but lost to [[New Democratic Party of Ontario|New Democratic Party]] candidate [[Odoardo Di Santo]] in [[Downsview (electoral district)|Downsview]] by sixty-eight votes. He was elected in the [[1981 Ontario general election|1981 election]], defeating NDP candidate Mike Morrone by 1,187 votes in Yorkview.


⚫
Spensieri supported [[David Peterson]] for the Liberal Party leadership in 1982. In late 1984, he was forced to issue an apology after sending out a newsletter which portrayed the New Democratic Party as "a group of socialists committed to the destruction of the separate school system and the murder of unborn children".<ref>Robert Stephens, "MPP Spensieri offers apology for newsletter", ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 12 October 1984.</ref> He served one term in the legislature, and was not a candidate for re-election in 1985. He sought the Liberal nomination in Downsview for the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 election]], but lost to [[Laureano Leone]].<ref>Sterling Taylor, "2,000 Downsview Liberals pick candidate", ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 8 June 1987.</ref>
In [[1999]], the [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] [[Family Coalition Party of Ontario|Family Coalition Party]] announced that Spensieri would be its candidate in [[York Centre]] for the upcoming provincial election.[http://www.theinterim.com/1999/may/5fcp.html] Due to persistent cardiovascular health concerns, however, he was unable to participate.[http://www.theinterim.com/2000/may/13ontariofcp.html]


==After politics==
⚫
Spensieri returned to his law practice after leaving the legislature but sought permission to resign from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1989, after losing count of two million dollars' worth of unclaimed moneys. Spensieri cited a [[manic-depressive]] bipolar illness as his defense before convocation, and was granted leave to resign for his own well-being.<ref>Rick Haliechuk, "Lawyer can resign from bar in mishandling of $2 million", ''Toronto Star'', 27 October 1989.</ref> After this, he wrote a number of letters to Toronto newspapers describing prominent Italian-Canadian figures in the Liberal Party as cultural misfits. In 1998, he wrote that "voters of Italian heritage ... have erred too often and too long by electing mostly Liberals".<ref>Michael Spensieri, "Cultural Misfits", ''The Globe and Mail'', 11 May 1998.</ref>


In 1999, the [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] [[Family Coalition Party of Ontario|Family Coalition Party]] announced that Spensieri would be its candidate in [[York Centre (federal electoral district)|York Centre]] for the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 provincial election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=FCP: The only real pro-life option |url=http://www.theinterim.com/1999/may/5fcp.html |author=Fr. Alphonse de Valk |publisher=The Interim |date=May 1999 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109142552/http://www.theinterim.com/1999/may/5fcp.html |archivedate=2005-11-09 }}</ref> Due to persistent cardiovascular health concerns, however, he was unable to participate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ontario FCP meets to chart new course |url=http://www.theinterim.com/2000/may/13ontariofcp.html |author=Tony Gosgnach |publisher=The Interim |date=May 2000 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109205610/http://www.theinterim.com/2000/may/13ontariofcp.html |archivedate=2005-11-09 }}</ref>
==Notes==
Spensieri retired from public life and promoted activities and fundraising in the areas of mental health and bipolar disorders.
# {{note|abortion}} Robert Stephens, "MPP Spensieri offers apology for newsletter", ''[[Globe and Mail]]'', 12 October 1984.
# {{note|1987}} Sterling Taylor, "2,000 Downsview Liberals pick candidate", ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 8 June 1987.
# {{note|MD}} Rick Haliechuk, "Lawyer can resign from bar in mishandling of $2 million", ''Toronto Star'', 27 October 1989.
# {{note|1998}} Michael Spensieri, "Cultural Misfits", ''Globe and Mail'', 11 May 1998.


Spensieri died on May 6, 2013. He was 64.<ref>{{cite web |title=In Memory of Michaelangelo Spensieri 1949-2013 |url=http://www.cdtfuneralhomes.ca/book-of-memories/1574915/Spensieri-Michael/obituary.php |publisher=Colaricci Daudlin Tauro Funeral Homes Ltd. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017111652/http://www.cdtfuneralhomes.ca/book-of-memories/1574915/Spensieri-Michael/obituary.php |archivedate=2013-10-17 }}</ref>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spensieri, Michael}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Ontario MPP biography|id=michael-a-spensieri}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spensieri, Michelangelo}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Ontario MPPs]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:People from Molise]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:Italian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]

Latest revision as of 18:50, 22 October 2024

Michael Spensieri
Ontario MPP
In office
1981–1985
Preceded byFred Young
Succeeded byClaudio Polsinelli
ConstituencyYorkview
Personal details
Born(1949-01-02)January 2, 1949
Molise, Italy
DiedMay 6, 2013(2013-05-06) (aged 64)
Political partyOntario Liberal Party
ResidenceToronto
OccupationLawyer

Michelangelo 'Michael' Spensieri (January 2, 1949 – May 6, 2013) was an Italian-Canadian politician and lawyer in Ontario. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1985, as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Background

[edit]

Spensieri moved to Canada at the age of 13 from the town of Vinchiaturo near Campobasso in the Italian region of Molise. He was educated at the University of Toronto, receiving a Juris Doctor J.D. degree in 1972, and Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, where he was awarded the Master of Laws degree in 1992 specializing in International Business, Trade & Tax Laws. He practiced law in Toronto until October 26, 1989.

Politics

[edit]

Spensieri ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election but lost to New Democratic Party candidate Odoardo Di Santo in Downsview by sixty-eight votes. He was elected in the 1981 election, defeating NDP candidate Mike Morrone by 1,187 votes in Yorkview.

Spensieri supported David Peterson for the Liberal Party leadership in 1982. In late 1984, he was forced to issue an apology after sending out a newsletter which portrayed the New Democratic Party as "a group of socialists committed to the destruction of the separate school system and the murder of unborn children".[1] He served one term in the legislature, and was not a candidate for re-election in 1985. He sought the Liberal nomination in Downsview for the 1987 election, but lost to Laureano Leone.[2]

After politics

[edit]

Spensieri returned to his law practice after leaving the legislature but sought permission to resign from the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1989, after losing count of two million dollars' worth of unclaimed moneys. Spensieri cited a manic-depressive bipolar illness as his defense before convocation, and was granted leave to resign for his own well-being.[3] After this, he wrote a number of letters to Toronto newspapers describing prominent Italian-Canadian figures in the Liberal Party as cultural misfits. In 1998, he wrote that "voters of Italian heritage ... have erred too often and too long by electing mostly Liberals".[4]

In 1999, the socially conservative Family Coalition Party announced that Spensieri would be its candidate in York Centre for the 1999 provincial election.[5] Due to persistent cardiovascular health concerns, however, he was unable to participate.[6] Spensieri retired from public life and promoted activities and fundraising in the areas of mental health and bipolar disorders.

Spensieri died on May 6, 2013. He was 64.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Robert Stephens, "MPP Spensieri offers apology for newsletter", The Globe and Mail, 12 October 1984.
  2. ^ Sterling Taylor, "2,000 Downsview Liberals pick candidate", Toronto Star, 8 June 1987.
  3. ^ Rick Haliechuk, "Lawyer can resign from bar in mishandling of $2 million", Toronto Star, 27 October 1989.
  4. ^ Michael Spensieri, "Cultural Misfits", The Globe and Mail, 11 May 1998.
  5. ^ Fr. Alphonse de Valk (May 1999). "FCP: The only real pro-life option". The Interim. Archived from the original on 2005-11-09.
  6. ^ Tony Gosgnach (May 2000). "Ontario FCP meets to chart new course". The Interim. Archived from the original on 2005-11-09.
  7. ^ "In Memory of Michaelangelo Spensieri 1949-2013". Colaricci Daudlin Tauro Funeral Homes Ltd. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17.
[edit]
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