Gabriel Francis Piemonte

Piemonte was born in the North End to Italian immigrants originally from Avellino, Sicily. Piemonte graduated from Boston English High School in 1926 and Suffolk Law School in 1930, and began his career as a lawyer. Piemonte was an advocate for the North End and the Italian American community from the beginning of his career through to and after his retirement. He founded the Justinian Law Society to serve Italian American Lawyers in a time when many opportunities were barred from them.

While on the Boston City Council, Piemonte was an advocate for the Boston Police Department, Urban Renewal, and for the City Council to have a stronger role in municipal government. Additionally, Piemonte was against predatory landlords, delinquent tax payers, and waste in City spending. Piemonte was known to be one of the most dedicated presidents to the Boston City Council. He attended every committee meeting held, regardless if he sat on the committee, and was the first Council member to serve as president for three consecutive terms.

Following losses in the 1959 and 1963 mayoral elections, Piemonte continued to serve on the Boston City Council until 1972. Piemonte ultimately did not run for re-election and returned to practicing law in the North End following a conflict of interest and zoning controversy with his family-run car wash. Outside of politics, Piemonte was active in the Young Life Movement, was a member of Project Place, served as the commissioner for the Boy Scouts, and helped organize the Parkway Boys Club in West Roxbury.