Setti Warren, a lifelong public servant who was the first Black mayor elected in Massachusetts, has been laid to rest in Newton this week after a funeral Mass on Friday. The former Newton mayor died suddenly on Nov. 2 of natural causes. He was 55 years old.
“Setti Warren was a remarkable human being,” said Gov. Maura Healey at his funeral, held at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church. “He exemplifies the very best in service, he believed in faith, family, and our country. We’re heartbroken to be here today to mourn his loss.”
Born in 1970, Warren was the son of Dr. Joseph D. Warren, later an advisor on Gov. Michael Dukakis’ presidential campaign, and Elpidia Lopez, a former social worker. Raised Catholic, Warren was a graduate of Boston College, where he served as student government president, and the Suffolk University Law School. He later worked as a consultant before entering politics in 1995 on the reelection campaign of President Bill Clinton.
Warren later served in a number of White House roles, and was a regional director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency before departing the public sector to work in development for his alma mater in Boston.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Setti Warren '93's family after his unexpected passing. The @BCAlumni was an Iraq War veteran, two-term mayor of the City of Newton, and the first popularly elected Black mayor in Massachusetts history. pic.twitter.com/Qwx8R4QS3E
— Boston College (@BostonCollege) November 3, 2025
After the onset of the War on Terror under President George W. Bush, Warren enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 2003 and worked on the presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. He was also active in Newton governmental affairs before deploying overseas as a Navy intelligence operative in Iraq.
Having previously explored the possibility of running for mayor of Newton, Warren officially filed papers for his campaign while still in military training in 2007. He temporarily delayed his run while completing a tour of duty in the Middle East and returned to Massachusetts in 2008. He was elected by a slim margin in 2009, defeating a fellow Democrat, State Rep. Ruth Balser. After an abortive run for a U.S. Senate seat in 2011, Warren was elected to a second term as mayor in 2013.
During his two terms, Warren worked to stabilize Newton’s finances amid the fallout of the 2008 economic crisis, invested in education, and sought to stimulate the city’s economy. He was also known for supporting eco-friendly policies of the day, reducing the local carbon footprint.
“He was most proud of the work he did behind the scenes, meeting with families and constituents and helping them through the challenging times in their lives,” reads an official obituary for Warren.
After announcing he would not seek a third term as mayor of Newton, Warren launched a campaign for Massachusetts governor in 2017, running on universal healthcare, free college, high-speed rail, and taxing the rich. He suspended his campaign less than a year later, moving back into higher education as director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University.
Warren became director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute for Politics in 2022, which engages students in public service through various programs inspired by the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
Following Warren’s death, tributes poured in from across the state and beyond, celebrating a legacy of service and a broad commitment to the common good, including his two most recent roles at Harvard.
“He will be remembered as a visionary and tireless leader who helped steer these institutions as they hosted prominent speakers and fellows from across the political divide, conducted groundbreaking research, and fostered debate and engagement on the most challenging issues of our time,” reads a joint statement from Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein and Harvard College Dean David Deming.
“Most of all, he will be remembered at Harvard by the many students he helped to teach, nurture, and mentor. Setti’s students loved him, and their impact—like his—will reverberate for generations to come.”
“He embodied the very best of what it means to serve: humility, courage and an unwavering belief in the power of community,” said Steve Kerrigan, chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
“His impact will be felt for generations, and his loss is deeply felt across Massachusetts and beyond.”
Mourners at Warren’s wake and funeral included Gov. Healey, Boston mayor Michelle Wu, former Gov. Dukakis, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, and several other local and state officials.
Warren was predeceased by his father as well as a younger sister, Kara. He is survived by his wife, Tassy; their children, Abigail and John; mother, Elpidia Lopez; stepmother, Martha Warren; twin sister, Makeda Warren Keegan, brother-in-law, Jesse, and nephew, Alexander; and stepsiblings, Keir and Lea Walker.
In lieu of flowers, the Warren family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the Newton Food Pantry or to Soldier On, which benefits veterans facing homelessness.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
