GAZEBO TO HONOR ‘MAYOR MIKE’
Borough mayor from 19822008 to be memorialized
LANSDALE >> It’s official: a new borough landmark will be named after one of Lansdale’s local legends.
“A new honor will be bestowed on a man who was the face and heart of Lansdale for more than half a century,” said councilman Bill Henning.
“The late Michael DiNunzio Sr., ‘Mayor Mike’ as thousands of residents knew him, will have a new community gazebo at Memorial Park named in his memory during the borough’s 150th anniversary in 2022,” he said.
Back in January Henning, who is a member of the borough’s volunteer 150th anniversary committee, first unveiled a concept plan for a gazebo to be installed in Memorial Park. Early concept sketches show the gazebo could be installed between the stationary cannon and ballfield in the park, and the 150th committee said in March it could be used as a focal point for events throughout 2022, commemorating a century and a half since the town was founded in 1872.
Henning announced during Wednesday night’s council meeting that the gazebo concept has now been finalized, and will be built as part of a joint effort between the 150th committee, the borough, and nonprofit Discover Lansdale, which organizes and assists with most events in town.
“It will be built in the space where the fountain and pond were once located, between the memorial markers and Weaver Field,” he said.
To help offset the costs, the 150th committee will sell engraved memorial bricks, “to be used to build a walkway around the structure,” he added. Details on those brick purchases should be available at upcoming town events, including First Friday festivities on July 2 and the planned Lansdale Day event on July 17, along with social media channels and websites for both the borough and Discover.
The name the gazebo will bear will be that of DiNunzio, who started Mike’s Shoe Repair on Susquehanna Avenue at age 14 and ran it for decades until serving as mayor from 1982 through 2008, then passed away at age 93 in October 2011. Famous locally for his bow tie and smile, DiNunzio served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946, earning the rank of technical sergeant, while being part of numerous local nonprofit boards and committees, according to MediaNews Group archives.
While still mayor, DiNunzio was honored with the Lansdale Historical Society’s Edwin G. Holl Historic Achievement Award. Council discussed in 2008 the possible renaming of Whites Road Park in his honor, the Historical Society held a special open house displaying Mayor Mike’s collectibles in November 2011, and in 2012 council discussed a possible memorial clock and piazza near the town’s Railroad Plaza in DiNunzio’s honor.
In a post announcing the gazebo on the Historical Society’s Facebook page, several local residents shared their memories of the former mayor.
“Wonderful man, great way to honor him,” said Mary Ann Renner, while Nancy Frye Kulp said he was “the best friend any one could ever have.” Charlynne Murphy DiBonaventura said she worked as his secretary and said “he was a wonderful man,” while Chris Stockmal recalled “He was a great neighbor. He sent us flowers when we moved here in 2000. So sweet,” and Jack Leach said DiNunzio was the “perfect friend and Mayor,” among other memories of DiNunzio.