State Rep. Dick Belden.
Sitting in front of the former Lafayette School on Sunday afternoon was a blue sign with white lettering.
It’s been awhile, but it was instantly familiar to anyone raised in Shelton.
“Reelect Dick Belden, 113th State Representative.”
And they did, for 25 years.
While for years the building behind that sign was an elementary school, on Sunday it officially became the Richard O. Belden Cultural Center, home to city offices and non-profits, including Center Stage Theatre.
About 75 people filled the theater Sunday to reminisce about Belden, who died in Aug. 20, 2007 at 73.
He was the longest continually-serving member of the state House of Representatives, having been first elected in 1974 and re-elected every other year until his death, when he was serving as its deputy minority leader.
Before his run in state politics, Belden served on the Shelton Board of Apportionment and Taxation and the Board of Aldermen. He also worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for 38 years as its facility director.
On Sunday, many of those who worked with Belden over the years paid tribute to him.
“We could not be more happy that this building is named for beautiful Dick Belden, who was a great supporter of the Youth Connection in the days before Center Stage,” said Fran Scarpa, who with her husband, Gary, have directed the productions since the Youth Connection’s conception in 1983.
State Rep. Jason Perillo, Shelton Board of Aldermen President John Anglace and State Rep. Themis Klarides with a photo of the late state Rep. Dick Belden.
“He would come to all the shows and would make sure that he saw me and went backstage and spoke to all of the children there and told them how proud he was to have them in our community,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to this wonderful man who set a true example of community service, integrity and honor.”
State Rep. Jason Perillo, R‑Shelton, was elected to Belden’s seat after his death. He thanked Belden’s wife of 51 years, Bert, for supporting him as he served the state.
“Until you have been in Hartford you don’t know how difficult it is for the family,” Perillo said. “From one legislative family to another, Bert, my wife Becky and I thank you for what you endured for so many years, late nights, no family dinner, we appreciate it and Shelton appreciates it.”
It’s appropriate that the building named for Belden does so much for the community because that is what he dedicated his life to, said TEAM President David Morgan. TEAM occupies two classrooms at the former school, one for its preschool program and one for elderly services.
“When you look at this facility, each week is more thriving than the week before as residents from Shelton and throughout the Valley are coming in, whether they want to learn more about elder care options or are seeking help for Mom or Dad or Meals on Wheels or so forth,” Morgan said. “The early childhood classrooms are nationally accredited and dedicated to 18 Shelton families a year of high-quality preschool.”
The Shelton Registrar of Voters and its adult education program also operate out of the building, he said.
“We will continue to see it grow and become more and more vibrant each week,” Morgan said. “What a testament it is to the legacy of Rep. Belden, so kudos to the city of Shelton for this remembrance of Rep. Belden.”
And it’s not the only tribute to the late representative, Morgan said, noting that the Richard O. Belden Dental Clinic in Derby provides services to thousands of children and their families throughout the Valley, and wouldn’t have been possible without Belden’s work in getting funding for the project.
“What we had in the Valley was substandard and the real challenge was accessing dental care, especially for children,” he said. “It was Rep. Belden who said ‘we are going to do this,’ and thorough his leadership we secured a bond to go from a substandard location, two-seat dental clinic to a nine-seat state-of-the-art dental clinic where thousands of children and their families have been positively impacted.”
Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell couldn’t make the festivities Sunday but sent a letter that Board of Aldermen President John Anglace read.
“How fitting this dedication is,” Rell wrote. “Dick’s love of his hometown of Shelton was evident to all who served with him.”
It was the Valley’s non-profits that meant the most to him, said Judge Thomas Welch, who knew Belden for years.
“Knowing Dick and his love of the non-profits, what we have done here is that these non-profits can use this building only paying the utilities and upkeep,” Welch said, “so rather than paying a private landlord, they are able to use this facility for roughly free of charge, giving them the opportunity so they can use the funds for the appropriate programs as opposed to paying rent.
John Belden said the family is grateful for the city’s tribute to his late brother.
“We want to thank everyone responsible for having changed the name of Lafayette School to the Richard O. Belden Cultural Center,” he said. “He was a humble guy, he helped a lot of people and he enjoyed it. He was always there for everybody.”
