Vento, Bruce F., 1940-2000

Bruce Vento was born on October 7, 1940 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Frank and Anne Vento, residents of the city's East Side. Vento was educated in parochial elementary schools, Johnson High School, the College of St. Thomas (1958-1959), the University of Minnesota (AA, 1961; graduate studies, 1966), and the University of Wisconsin at River Falls (BS, 1965). He subsequently taught social studies and science in the Minneapolis public school system (1965-1976); was elected (DFL) to the Minnesota House of Representatives (1971); and served as assistant majority leader (1974-1976). Following the retirement of fourth district congressman Joseph E. Karth in 1976, Vento was endorsed as the DFL candidate and was elected to Congress.

In Congress, Vento was allied with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and became a leader in banking, human services, and environmental legislation. He was a member of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and the Committee on Resources. As chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands for ten years, from 1985 through 1994, Vento oversaw the enactment of 300 laws.

Vento died on October 10, 2000 at the age of 61 from pleural mesothelioma, a cancer attributed to asbestos exposure while Vento worked his way through college.

Additional biographical information is contained within Box 1 of the collection.

From the guide to the Bruce F. Vento papers., 1970-2000., (Minnesota Historical Society)