Youthful And Resilient Paoletta Leads Columbus Festivities

Lenny Paoletta
Former Mayor Lenny Paoletta.

You’ll not meet a more vibrant 79-year-old than Lenny Paoletta who served as mayor from 1981-1985. Determined, athletic, resourceful, Paoletta is serving as the 2014 Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshal. Paoletta loves a parade and it was during his years as mayor the St. Patrick’s Day Parade festivities took flight. He’s also resilient. Twenty years ago Paoletta was seriously wounded and nearly died from a drive-by shooting following a church dinner on the steps of Holy Rosary Church on the city’s East Side.

Paoletta had been at the church cooking dinner for volunteers. The gunman was apparently aiming at a group down the street when Paoletta and two other men including the church pastor were hit. Chris Caruso, then a state representative and active church member, was near Paoletta and provided first aid on the steps of the church until paramedics arrived.

Dr. John MacArthur, Bridgeport Hospital’s chairman of surgery announced, “When they brought him in here he was bleeding badly, he had no pulse and no blood pressure, and he came about as close to dying as you could.”

Paoletta recovered and continued living life to the fullest. Even in the hospital, Paoletta maintained a sense of humor, declaring to a surgeon, I hope you’re a Republican. It was Paoletta, 30 years ago, who first proposed the redevelopment of the Steel Point area on the East Side.

More on Paoletta from Frank Szivos on behalf of Columbus Day festivities.

Leonard S. Paoletta, former mayor of Bridgeport, will accept the sash as the 2014 Columbus Day Parade & Celebration Grand Marshall on June 24th at the Holiday Inn, 1070 Main Street, Bridgeport.

The sashing ceremonies begins at 6 pm and will include hors d’ouevres and beverages. Tickets are $75 and available by emailing Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Parade co-chairs Joseph Riccio (jricc23@gmail.com) or Frank Gennarini (fgennarini@hihodaddario.com).

To help expand the parade, Paoletta has named former and current area Mayors and First Selectmen as Honorary Grand Marshals, who include: Bridgeport Mayor William Finch and former Bridgeport Mayors John Fabrizi, Thomas Bucci, and Nicholas Panuzio; Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and former Trumbull First Selectman Paul Timpanelli.

In addition, Paoletta has appointed a board of advisors: Mike Bisciglia of Trumbull and former Grand Marshals Mike Marella of Bridgeport, Frank Gennarini of Milford, and Joseph Ambrosini of Trumbull.

In addition, Richard Iannucci of Stratford will serve as Parade Chairman, assisting the Grand Marshal in recruiting floats and bands for the parade. Iannucci is the Commander of Port 5 Naval Veterans in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. A Navy veteran, Iannucci received a Service to Country and Community Award in November of 2013 for his work with veterans by the Workplace and the CT Department of Labor’s Office of Veterans.

Urging area residents to celebrate their Italian-American heritage, Paoletta, an Easton resident, becomes the Grand Marshall of the 106th Columbus Day Parade & Celebration, the oldest running one in the state.

“I’m very honored and excited about this opportunity,” Paoletta said. “I grew up in Bridgeport and started watching the parade when I was a child. We are trying to expand the parade this year and get the people out. We want everyone to turn out to celebrate the proud heritage of the Italian Americans who helped shape this part of Connecticut into what it is today.”

A second-generation Italian-American, Paoletta plans to expand the Columbus Day Parade & Celebration on October 12th with more quality floats and marching bands as well as recruit the support of the area business community.

“Some people may wonder why you need a parade,” Paoletta said. “I believe we do. When people come out and experience the parade, they reflect on their heritage and realize that Bridgeport is still a vibrant city that they can be proud of. This will be the one hundred and sixth parade; we have to be doing something right.”

Paoletta has a long resume of involvement in building Italian-American awareness throughout the Greater Bridgeport area. Ten years ago, he founded the Bridgeport Area Cultural Italian Organization (BACIO), an organization dedicated to spreading awareness of Italian culture throughout the area. BACIO has sponsored many events focusing on Italian influence in the arts, such as lectures, opera singers, and movies. Under Paoletta’s guidance, BACIO raises awareness of Italian culture that culminates in Big Night, a sumptuous feast, featuring authentic Italian dishes and opera singer.

For two terms, Paoletta served as mayor of Bridgeport from 1981-1985. He was born and raised in Bridgeport, graduated from Harding High School, Fairfield University, and Georgetown University Law School. He also was a state representative and an attorney in the law firm of Seeley and Berglass. He was later appointed by the governor as a magistrate on the state Worker’s Compensation Commission.

Paoloetta lives in Easton with his wife Dorothea (Mickey) and has four children and 13 grandchildren.

Spokesperson for the Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Christopher Caruso said Paoletta was an ideal candidate for the Grand Marshal position and was pleased that he accepted.

“Lenny’s resume speaks for itself,” Caruso said. “He has deep roots in the Italian-American culture of Greater Bridgeport and everyone knows his name, especially after serving as mayor. He totally supports spreading awareness of Italian-American culture.”

The popular Marine Band Concert is also tentatively scheduled to take place on two consecutive nights October 10th & 11th prior to the parade at the Klein Memorial Auditorium as part of the Columbus Day Celebrations.

The Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport will sponsor the Parade and all the Columbus Day Parade and Celebration for the 35th consecutive year. The council was formed in 1978 to operate exclusively for charitable, literary and education purposes in recognizing the contribution of Italian-Americans to this country. In 1979, the council became the official sponsor of the Columbus Day Parade Celebration.

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3 comments

  1. I thought I would never say this but Lenny Paoletta is looking real good compared to Bridgeport’s Republican Party members today. I would love calling the Tiny Markle radio show on WICC and question and push his buttons but he is a nice guy.

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