Six alumni and friends of St. Mary-St. Michael Elementary School in Derby will be recognized Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the University Commons on the campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.
The recipients include:
Frank Saldamarco: Born in Derby on October 25, 1921. Frank graduated from Derby High School as president of his class in 1939. He joined the Air Force in 1942, served in the Helicopter Pioneer Unit and was discharged in 1946.
Frank was president and owner of State Cutter & Grinding Company until his retirement and is a past recipient of the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation, a member of the St. Mary’s Men’s Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
Domenick Valentino: A lifelong resident of Derby and a lifelong member of St. Mary Church. Domenick was employed as the Manager of Arrow Rubber Band Corporation and Cottrel Skate Wheel Corporation, both divisions of Bond Rubber Corporation of Derby.
In 1963 Domenick helped form and develop Syntex Rubber Corporation in Bridgeport. He served as part owner, officer and Vice President of Syntex. After forty-five years, Syntex was sold to a company in Indiana in 2008. He serves on the St. Mary-St. Michael School Board.
Jack Walsh: President and Chief Operating Officer of Valley United Way. A life-long resident of Derby, he has been with United Way since 1989. Jack was previously a teacher in Shelton and Derby as well as the head boys basketball coach at Shelton High School and was named as Coach of the Year by the New Haven Tap-Off Club in 1988.
Jack is a proud 1960 graduate of St. Mary’s School and 1964 graduate of Derby High. He received his Bachelors Degree in History from UConn and Masters Degree in History from Southern.
Jack also taught at St. Michael’s School from 1968 – 1974 and at St. Mary’s for the ’74-’75 school year before going on to teach in the Derby and Shelton public schools.
Although there are no “official” records, Jack just may be the only St. Mary’s graduate who went on to teach at both St. Michael’s and St. Mary’s before they merged.
Bob Skoronski: A key force on Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers championships of the 1960’s. During Skoronski’s tenure the Packers won five NFL titles, including the first two Super Bowls ever played.
Bob is the grandson of Polish immigrants and a 1947 graduate of St. Michael School. After his career with the Packers he opened a number of successful businesses.
Anne & Charles Stankye: Lifelong residents of Derby. They were married in St. Mary’s Church in 1957 and are both graduates of St. Mary’s School.
They are the parents of four children, all of whom graduated from St. Mary and St. Michael Schools.
These children have given them 11 grandchildren. Ann & Charlie served as officers of the first organized parents group at St. Mary’s School with Sr. Elizabeth and have been members of St. Jude Parish since 1965.
Both have been deeply involved with the Boy Scouts of America and are recipients of the Silver Beaver Award. Charlie, his three sons and three of his grandsons are Eagle Scouts.
The event will feature a Tapas menu, wine and beverages, the award presentations, and other surprises.
A keepsake program book is being produced and advertisements, congratulatory and in memoriam messages are available by contacting the school office.
The admission cost is $40 per person with tables of ten available at a cost of $350.
Reservations are requested by March 18, 2011 and can be made by contacting Mrs. Coppola at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (203) 735‑6471.