The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
A better world
City native, volunteer devoted to improving the lives of others
TORRINGTON — City native Leo Martigeni was right at home at the graduation ceremony this week at the Warner Theatre, where students from Oliver Wolcott Technical High School received their class of 2018 diplomas.
He’s an alumnus of the school as well as a volunteer usher at the venue. His role at the Warner represents just one of the more than a dozen community groups for which he volunteers.
Martigeni was honored for his volunteerism recently by the Torrington chapter of UNICO National, which named him this year’s Community Ambassador.
“I don’t go in for recognition,” he said about the award.
Yet, he was humbled, he said, and grateful. In keeping with his shyness about public attention, Martigeni was reluctant to be featured in a news article. He wanted to forgo the publicity, he said, and pondered the request for three days before agreeing to be interviewed.
Martigeni said he is most proud of being chairman of the Torrington Veteran’s Support Committee. He and other members begin planning the Memorial Day ceremonies in January, he said. Martigeni said his key responsibility is the coordination with the Air Force and National Guard to arrange a flyover of a plane during the city’s annual Memorial Day parade.
“The best one ever was in 2017, Martigeni said, when both a C-130 cargo plane and an F-15 fighter jet flew over the parade route.
“I was in heaven,” he said.
His devotion to volunteerism is only equaled by his commitment to Jayne, his wife of 29 years. She said the two met through a CB radio club. His handle, or what would now be called an avatar, was “Radar Rabbit,” and her’s was “Diamond Girl.”
She agreed that her husband is humble but has a dedication to giving back to the community.
“He has gone above and beyond in many ways,” Jayne Martigeni said.
In the event program she was quoted as saying “If every community had a Leo Martigeni as a volunteer, this world would be a much better place.”
“I don’t go in for recognition.”
Leo Martigeni, volunteer
At the UNICO ceremony, Leo Martigeni asked the student scholarship winners to begin, or continue volunteering, as they become adults.
“I mentioned it only takes a couple hours a month. I challenged them to give back to the community,” he said.
At the ceremony, $51,587 was awarded to students and community groups. UNICO member Peggy Hotchkiss said the Torrington chapter donates the highest dollar amount in grants of any chapter in the country.
Those awarded student scholarships are: Gianna Delmonte, $1,600; Jacob Beausoleil, $1,500; Catherine Butrick, $1,200; Gia Hoa Lam, $1,500; Morgan Elizabeth Daley, $1,500; Andrew Bugryn, $5,000; Ashley Civelli. $1,200; Annah Podos, $1,200; Abigail Hanlon, $1,200; Brian Bassler, $1,000.
Also Samuel Hemenway, $1,200; Michael Calabrese, $5,000; Haseeb Mahmood, $1,200; Natalie Garrison, $1,200; Cassie Fedor, $1,200; Scerra Saletsky, $1,200 and Cara Baker, $1,200.
“...It only takes a couple hours a week. I challenged them (students) to give back to the community.”
Leo Martigeni