The Late Leonard J. Del Gallo, Sr., UNICO's Avon Citizen of the Year 2013

AVON, CT. --- The Avon Chapter of UNICO is honored to announce that the 2013 UNICO Citizen of the Year award recipient is the late Leonard J. Del Gallo, Sr., former chairman of the Avon Day Committee. 

UNICO will present the award at Avon Day, Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. (Rain date Sunday, September 22), on the grounds between Pine Grove and Thompson Brook Schools. All are invited to attend and there is no admission charge. UNICO National is the United States’ largest Italian-American service organization, and its motto is “service above self.” The award committee, under chairman Greg Van Deusen, bestows the award on an individual who has distinguished himself or herself with unselfish service to the community, and who has helped make Avon a better place in which to live. 

Said Mr. Van Deusen, "The Selection Committee agreed right away that Len was the Avon Citizen of the Year for 2013. We are saddened by the loss of our good friend, yet uplifted as we recall the precious time we spent with such a fine person.”

Laurie Carlson, Administrative Coordinator of the Avon Public Works Department, worked closely with Len for many years on Avon Day. Said Ms. Carlson, “We miss him on a personal level and as a chairman.  He was respected by the whole committee as a person and a chairman. Over the course of his chairmanship, we all grew to feel like family, with Len at the helm.”

In being notified of the UNICO award, the Del Gallo family kindly responded that  “the Del Gallo family would like to thank the Town of Avon and all who have participated in bringing Avon Day together each year. Len Sr. loved the town of Avon and gave his time and years of service in an effort to make Avon an even more special place to live for all.”

Profile of Len Del Gallo Sr.

     Mr. Len Del Gallo Sr. was a beloved member of the Avon community and for the past fifteen years, Len was Chairman of Avon Day. Avon Day, an annual event, began in 1982 with UNICO becoming the sponsor in 1998. 

Under Len’s leadership, Avon Day grew from a smaller event to an annual town-wide celebration on the grounds of Pine Grove and Thompson Brook Schools. There are now over eighty booths representing local groups, businesses, food, inflatables, and other attractions. Proceeds from the event, totaling tens of thousands of dollars over the years, have been donated to Avon’s Special Needs Fund. 

It was Len’s ideas, energy, foresight, and kindness that endeared him to all who worked with him. The Avon Day Committee, with Len Del Gallo Sr. at the helm, always presented an event for families that showed off Avon’s community spirit, and educated people about Avon’s variety of service organizations. Last September, while preparing for the event on the Avon Day Field, Mr. Len Del Gallo Sr. was taken to the hospital. He passed away on January 9, 2013 and will be missed by all who have been touched by his generosity and kindness.

Mr. Del Gallo Sr. was retired and the previous owner of insurance agencies. He was a former district governor of UNICO National. Len was a member of Prince Thomas of Savoy Society in Avon, Farmington Woods Golf Course, served on many other committees and service organizations, and was past President of the Golf Club of Avon.  

Len’s wife, Marlene Del Gallo, resides in Avon. Len Sr. and Marlene’s sons, Michael and Leonard Jr., also live in Avon with their families.

 UNICO & AVON DAY CITIZEN of the YEAR: Members of the UNICO Avon Citizen of the Year Award Committee are Chairman Greg Van Deusen, Bob Galiette, Nora Howard, and Caroline LaMonica. For information about Avon Day please contact Laurie Carlson at LCARLSON@town.avon.ct.us or at 860-673-6151. Contact Avon’s Chapter of UNICO National at Box 1442, Avon, Ct. 06001, and at www.avonunico.org. 

CITIZEN of the YEAR PAST RECIPIENTS: The 15th Annual UNICO Citizen of the Year Award honors Len Del Gallo, Sr. Previous recipients: Judge of Probate Stephen Gaffney (1998); pediatrician Dr. Lothar Candels (1999); Chief Police Chief James Martino (2000); Avon historian M. Frances MacKie (2001); Town Council Chairman Richard Hines (2002); VFW 3272 Post Commander Donald B. Studley (2003); realtor and volunteer Hank Frey (2004); Superintendent of Schools Herb Pandiscio (2005); Avon Soccer co-founders Arthur and Patricia Hennig (2006); co-recipients Mark Nolan, former principal of Pine Grove School, and Dan Widing, Special Olympics volunteer (2007); John Anthony O’Neill, volunteer and collector of Avon history (2008); William Goralski, historian and author (2009), Carl Candels (2010), collector and promoter of all-things Avon, and Robert H. Breckenridge, Jr. (2011), member of the Avon Land Trust, and Diane Hornaday (2012), Chair of the Avon Free Public Library Building Committee.