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Brian Dennehy
DERBY – The city’s legislative body voted in 2005 to name a small bridge off Roosevelt Drive after actor Brian Dennehy, but the project never moved forward.
Now resident and Derby historian Jack Walsh hopes the city can address the issue.
Walsh appeared at the Feb. 24 meeting of the community relations and blight committee, which is a subcommittee of the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen, to let them know that the bridge does not bear Dennehy’s name.
The bridge crosses a canal near the former Derby Cellular Products building in west Derby.
Walsh said he came across the oversight while doing some research.
“To this day there is no signage indicating the bridge was named for him,” Walsh said.
Derby City/Town Clerk Marc Garofalo said the Board of Aldermen voted to name the bridge after Dennehy in October of 2005. Click here for a summary from The Electronic Valley.
It’s not clear why the naming didn’t happen.
Alderman Ron Sill thanked Walsh for bringing the matter to the subcommittee’s attention. The issue will be discussed at the next full meeting of the Derby Board of Aldermen/women.
Dennehy, a legendary star of screen and stage, died in April 2020 at age 81.
Part of his formative years (at about 9 or 10 years old) were spent living on Mount Pleasant Street in Derby from 1945 to 1948. In Derby he was a Cub Scout in Cub Pack 3. He also lived in Shelton growing up.
In 1948 he performed in the Scouts’ annual variety show in the basement of the United Methodist Church on Elizabeth Street across from the Derby Green, and returned to the spot in 1994 to show his appreciation for iconic Scout leader Ed Strang.
According to“Variety,” Dennehy“served in the Marines from 1959 – 63, after which he studied history at Columbia, attending the university on a football scholarship. He subsequently earned his MFA in dramatic arts from Yale.”
Dennehy became a respected character actor, especially on stage. His critically acclaimed film roles include “First Blood,” “Cocoon,” “Best Seller,” “Silverado” and the comedy cult classic, “Tommy Boy.”
