The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Residents let couple know they’re loved, missed
TORRINGTON — Smiles and looks of surprise were on the faces of Umberto “Al” and Connie Persechino, as a parade of cars passed by their home on Marcia Drive in Torrington Sunday afternoon. What was taking place was a show of love for the Persechinos, mainstays at Jimmy’s on East Main Street, the corner supermarket owned by their son, Robert.
“I can’t believe this,” said Persechino, as he waved to people inside cars or sitting astride an open window at a safe distance, holding signs and flags, paying respects to the couple who were told by their son to be safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, they would have to stay home.
“I miss you all so much,” he said, as he broke into tears and covered his face at times. “I watch television and have a hard time going to sleep. I want to be at the store.”
His wife consoled her husband and patted him on the shoulder as cars passed by, honking horns and playing music by Andrea Boccelli that filled the warm, sunny afternoon. Some cars were decorated with signs reading “We love you” and “We miss you.”
One person who stopped by was the Persechino’s grandson, Ryan, a freshman at Pace University in Manhattan, who left after the pandemic hit the city hard.
“This is the first time I’ve seen my grandparents since I got home,” he said. “I want to go up to them and hug them, but I’m afraid of giving them something and that would be
terrible.
“Robbie” Persechino said the idea of a drive by came from Nickie Starzyk. Then Terrie Mclellan, Kelly Harris and Nick Spina jumped in and made it happen.
“Everyone loved the idea and all the employees got on board,” Robbie Persechino said. “I would say we had about 30 cars pass by and I know it meant a lot to my parents.
“It’s been tough for them, being away from Jimmy’s, where they have worked in key roles for 30 years,” he said. “But they are 85 and 83, and I didn’t think they should be there during this time.”
Al Persechino’s duties include hand-rolling hundreds of his sought-after meatballs, opening and helping close the store, and performing pretty much any duty that needs tending to. His wife holds court in the kitchen, does the books and also pitches in wherever she’s needed.
Robbie Persechino said the idea of the drive-by
made sense, because so many customers have come in and asked about his parents.
“It was a get-together of family, friends and longtime customers who wanted to say hi and tell my parents that they were missed and not forgotten during all this,” he said.
Al Perschino was elevated to the lofty status of Mayor of Torrington on Columbus Day 2019, when he was declared Torrington Chapter of UNICO National “Italian Mayor of the Day.”
He was born in Sant’Apollinare, Italy on October 29, 1934, one of seven children born to Antonio and Angelina Persechino, who migrated to Torrington in 1948. He grew up in a closeknit family of siblings including Lelia, Fiorello, Guerina, Diamonte, Peter and Attilia.
Upon returning from the service, he married Concetta (Connie) Andria in 1960. The couple have three children: Robbie and his wife Laurie of New Hartford, Diane Lanese and her husband Michael of Waterbury, and Janet Persechino of Brighton, Ma. and a number of grandchildren Everyone who knows Albert Persechino knows that family is “everything” to him.
Persechino worked at Union Hardware, Torin, and Seitz Corporation before retiring from the Torrington Company and joining the staff at Jimmy’s. He has lived in Torrington for 71 years.
When he was Mayor for the Day, Al Persechino called it “the greatest day of my life.” That day have been equaled or topped on Sunday — by all those in the parade along Marcia Drive.