Contributed Photo
Mayor David Cassetti and Deacon Dave Gatison.
ANSONIA — First there was a park dedicated on his behalf and now a bronze bust of his likeness will be on display in front of City Hall to remind residents what the late John W. Gatison, Jr. meant to the community.
Gatison was the first Black man in the Naugatuck Valley elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1971 and was involved with civic activism in the Black community, according to Mayor David Cassetti. Gatison Park, located between Third and Fourth streets, was also named in his honor.
Because of his dedication to volunteerism and activities geared toward community betterment, including serving as president of the Valley Chapter of the NAACP, president of the Ansonia Housing Authority, a member of Griffin Hospital’s Board of Directors and member of the Valley American Red Cross, Cassetti had a bust commissioned in Gatison’s likeness, which the City will dedicate on Sunday, Feb. 28.
“I thought it was only fitting to have a bust of him (made) in honor of all he did for the African-American community,” Cassetti said.
Cassetti called upon sculptor/Ansonia resident Vasil Rajak, who created the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr, in front of City Hall, to create the bust of Gatison.
Cassetti recently dedicated the land where the MLK bust now sits to the city’s African American community, and will have the bust of Gatison placed there, as well.
Rakaj donated his time to the design of the bust, according to Cassetti. The total cost is about $5,000 which the city put aside, the mayor said, and will be reimbursed for through donated funds.
Gatison’s son, Deacon Dave Gatison, said the family is pleased with how the bust turned out, and he knows his dad will be smiling down upon the ceremony next to Dr. King.
“Dr. King’s dream was shared by my dad along with the March on Washington,” Gatison said. “Salvation and education for minority children was important to my dad, as well as employment opportunities, equal justice and unity. I believe they both would be honored.”
Gatison is honored that his dad’s legacy will live on in the community, the place where he lived, worked, raised a family, reached out to others and “sowed the seeds of love” everywhere he went.
He said his dad touched many lives as a trustee for the Macedonia Baptist Church for decades, and was instrumental in helping many gain employment at the former American Brass Co., where he served as Chief Steward of Union Local #6445. The elder Gatison was actively involved in the North End Community Action group, and even drove a school bus.
The dedication ceremony to unveil the bust is set for noon on Sunday (Feb. 28) outside City Hall, located at 253 Main St. The public is invited to attend, but all must wear masks and maintain social distancing. The event will wrap up the end of Black History Month, and Cassetti believes it’s important to honor those who’ve made a difference in the community.
“The African-American community has been an asset to Ansonia,” Cassetti said. “They migrated here, worked in our factories, educated their children here and deserve recognition for their contributions to the local community. It’s our way of saying thank you.”
Note: an earlier version of this story referred to John W. Gatison, Jr. as ‘Sr.’ That was incorrect.
