Former Boston police Commissioner Robert J. di Grazia died suddenly yesterday at his home office in Fort Myers, Fla. He was 90. Mr. di Grazia was a native of San Francisco, the son of immigrants from the Tuscany region of Italy. He was a graduate of Galileo High School in San Francisco and later graduated from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree.
Mr. di Grazia served in the United States Coast Guard. “He was a typical Italian. He didn’t take guff from anybody,” said his son Michael. “He liked doing the right thing. He was a very straightforward person.” “He was a strong personality, and rose through the ranks, and became one of the most respected police leaders in the country,” said his son Robert P. di Grazia.
