Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, CT’s second female governor

HARTFORD 1/3/07- Gov. M. Jodi Rell takes the oath of office to begin her first elected term as the state’s 87th governor Wednesday inside the Legislative Office Building. Holding the Bible is her husband, Lou Rell. Giving the oath of office is U.S. District Court Judge Alan H. Nevas. Courant Photo by Stephen Dunn ORG XMIT: 10001696A

FARMINGTON 11/4/06- Governor M. Jodi Rell was re-elected to Governor Tuesday night and celebrated at the Hartford Marriott along with her daughter, Meredith, left, her husband, Lou, right, and her favorite person, her new grandson, Tyler. Courant Photo by Stephen Dunn ORG XMIT: 10000889A ORG XMIT: HC0611072302404180

FILE – Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Relland Natasha Phaneuf wait for Gov. Rell to sign into law a bill establishing a stem cell research fund and banning human cloning at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Conn., June 15, 2005. (AP Photo/Bob Child, File)

Former First Lady Claudia Weicker, Governor M. Jodi Rell and Governor Ned Lamont talk with visitors during the 33rd annual Christmas open house at the Governor’s Residence in Hartford on Dec. 8, 2023. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)

Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell visited the governor’s mansion in Hartford last year to greet Gov. Ned Lamont and former FIrst Lady Claudia Weicker. Here, they talk about the Christmas decorations during the 33rd annual open house at the residence. Rell left office in 2011 at the age of 64. She died Wednesday at age 78.(Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)

Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell speaks with attendees after a discussion with Gov. Ned Lamont on civility at the University of Hartford Thursday. (Photo by Christopher Keating/Hartford Courant)

Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell on stage with Gov. Ned Lamont at the University of Hartford in September 2023 for a discussion on civility. (Photo by Christopher P. Keating/Hartford Courant)

PATRICK RAYCRAFT / The Hartford Courant

In 2005, then-state Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, at left, stood with Gov. M. Jodi Rell at a press conference after the governor signed a bill legalizing civil unions between same-sex couples. In 2009, Rell signed a bill making same-sex marriages legal. (Courant file photo)

MICHAEL MCANDREWS

Gov. John G. Rowland, is kissed by his wife Patty after being sworn in for his third term as governor by Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice William Sullivan in the lobby of the Legislative Office Building. Behind him is Lt. Governor Jodi Rell.

BOB MACDONNELL / THE HARTFORD COURANT

Gov. M. Jodi Rell and House Speaker Jim Amann, right, in 2008 were on hand for the grand opening of the Blue Sky Studios in Greenwich. Parent company Disney, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, says it’s shutting the animation studio.

Richard Messina / The Hartford Courant

Jim Perkins, a founder of TASK, a group of Kent residents organized to stop the federal recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, attended a 2005 press conference in Washington with Gov. Jodi Rell, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. Joe Lieberman and most of the Connecticut congressional delegation. Perkins is pictured between Lieberman and Rell.

Photo by Christopher P. Keating

Former governors Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., M. Jodi Rell and Dannel P. Malloy sat together in January 2019 at the state armory at Ned Lamont’s inauguration as governor. (Photo by Christopher P. Keating )

HARTFORD COURANT

“Old Dogs,” scenes filmed in Redding

Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed the bill, which also calls for the establishment of a film industry work force training program, at Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, where “Old Dogs,” starring John Travolta and Robin Williams, is being filmed. Travolta was on hand for the ceremonial signing.

STEPHEN DUNN / Hartford Courant

In this file photo from 2009, M. Jodi Rell, then the governor, addressed a joint session of the House and Senate to mark the opening session of the legislature.

Posted by Darlene Skeels, Community Contributor

Former Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell speaks informally with Westminster School students following a presentation she made to the school community Sept. 17 about her career in public service.

Bettina Hansen / Hartford Courant

Former Gov. Jodi Rell will deliver the commencement speech at Western Connecticut State University on May 10.

BOB MACDONNELL / THE HARTFORD COURANT

Then-Governor M. Jodi Rell and former House Speaker Jim Amann were on hand for the grand opening of the new Blue Sky Studio in Greenwich. Blue Sky moved 11 miles from its former White Plains, New York location to the Greenwich location to take advantage of Connecticut’s tax credits to entice filmmaking companies.

GEORGE RUHE / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Legendary women’s gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, left, is greeted by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in the hallway of the State Capitol before the start of a press conference in Hartford, on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. It’s being billed as the biggest sporting event to hit Connecticut since the NHL’s Hartford Whalers left town more than a decade ago. USA Gymnastics and Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Wednesday that Hartford will play host to next year’s gymnastics national championships.

STEPHEN DUNN / HARTFORD COURANT

Gov. M. Jodi Rell addressed a joint session of the House and Senate Wednesday afternoon to mark the opening session of the 2009 legislature. Joining her on the dais are, from left to right: Rep. Chris Donovan, the new speaker of the House, Sen. Don Williams, Senate president pro tem, and Michael Fedele, lieutenant governor.

BOB CHILD / AP

Gov. M. Jodi Rell leaves the Roman Catholic Church of St. Augustine following funeral services former Hartford Mayor Mike Peters on Thursday.