Henry Scagnoli

Henry A. Scagnoli (1922–2015) was an American government official who served as deputy mayor and fire commissioner during the administration of Boston Mayor John F. Collins.

Early life Scagnoli was born on May 6, 1922, in Jamaica Plain.

On December 20, 1959, Mayor-elected Collins named Scagnoli to the position of fire commissioner. He was sworn in on January 4, 1960. At the age of 37, Scagnoli was the youngest person appointed to the position. As commissioner, Scagnoli led a "space heater research program", which cut space heater deaths from 15 in the winter of 1959–60 to 0 in 1960–61.

In 1961, Scagnoli became director of administrative services, a position also referred to as deputy mayor. In this role, Collins tasked Scagnoli with balancing the city's payroll and reducing the number of civil servants. From 1960 to 1966, the city eliminated 1450 positions, however these efforts were undermined somewhat by the school committee, which added 874.

In 1962, Scagnoli was a finalist for the position of Boston police commissioner, but Collins opted to appoint FBI agent Edmund McNamara instead. He continued to serve a dual role as deputy mayor and fire commissioner until William J. Fitzgerald was sworn in on August 17. In October 1966, Scagnoli stepped down as deputy mayor for the lower paying position of deputy school construction engineer. He remained with the Boston Public Schools' planning and engineering department for over two decades.

Later life After Mary Scagnoli's health began to fail, the couple moved to an assisted living facility in West Roxbury. After her death in 2007, he remained at the facility, where, as one of the more active residents, he assisted other residents by driving them short distances. Scagnoli died on May 3, 2015, after falling ill with pneumonia.