Still, the vote ended up being very close, and Duehay won the ninth and final spot by under 50 votes. The election was later contested by a recount and a court decision.

But Duehay’s victory was upheld, and the CCA-controlled council elected the city’s first female mayor, who dismissed the divisive superintendent.

“This was an upheaval of unbelievable proportions at that time,” Duehay says.

After his victory, Duehay and the City Council focused on cleaning up city management and opening “an era of much greater professionalism in city government.”

Throughout this more progressive era, Duehay began to establish himself on the City Council, and also came to realize that he could accomplish more with seniority on his side. He served as mayor from 1980 to 1981, in 1985, and from 1998 to 1999.

Some of the accomplishments he points to are the development of affordable housing, the move from blue-collar to high-tech industry in Cambridge, and the appointment of guidance counselors in the Cambridge Public Schools.

“Frank is someone that will do his homework...and is compassionate about what he did,” says Sullivan.

At one point, Duehay even considered running for a congressional seat in 1986.

“And then Joe Kennedy decided to run, and I thought ‘This is stupid,’” Duehay says.

Following his last mayoral stint in 1999, Duehay decided to retire, so that he could focus on volunteer and fund-raising work.

He continues to volunteer in foundations and tutoring programs in the Cambridge area, and serves on several different committees. He was also at the center of recent drive to raise over $7 million for PBHA.

His altruism has earned him much praise.

“His life was about making Cambridge a better place, and I really admired that,” Katz says. “I’d always hear about Old Frank, and Old Frank was still doing good work....Frank in my view has always been Mr. Harvard Responsible.”

—Staff writer Evan R. Johnson can be reached at erjohns@fas.harvard.edu.