Legendary Pittsfield political figure honored

PITTSFIELD – Former mayor and longtime Pittsfield Democratic City Committee (PDCC) Chairman Remo Del Gallo was honored for his career in public service at a surprise party held at the ITAM Lodge.

“We’re here to honor a man who spent a lifetime dedicated to Democratic principles and who spent decades offering guidance wherever possible to the city of Pittsfield,” said current PDCC Chair (and Mr. Del Gallo’s nephew) Kevin Sherman, who organized last Thursday’s dinner reception.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there will never ever be another Remo Del Gallo,” Mr. Sherman remarked to those who had gathered to celebrate Mr. Del Gallo’s distinguished lifetime of service to the City of Pittsfield.

Mr. Del Gallo was first elected to the Pittsfield City Council in 1962. He served as mayor from 1965-1968 and since then has served on several boards and commissions, in addition to opening Del Gallo’s Restaurant on Newell Street.

“Remo is a guy of great stature and just a real hero to so many people,” said Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi. “There’s very few people who have served the way he has served over so many years.”

Mayor Bianchi presented Mr. Del Gallo with a certificate of recognition for his longtime service to the City of Pittsfield. This was one of several awards conferred upon Mr. Del Gallo during the ceremony.

Lee Harrison of Berkshire Brigades presented him with the Distinguished Democrat Award, while Art Butler and Pete Menard of the Labor Board gave him a plaque of recognition for his “many years of service to working families in Berkshire County.”

Other speakers included former Berkshire County Sheriff Carmen C. Massimiano and State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

“Your reputation, and the good work that you continue to do long past your time in the corner office is legendary in Pittsfield,” Rep. Farley-Bouvier told Mr. Del Gallo.

Mr. Massimiano praised the guest of honor for being a “very good and decent man” and described him as a “first citizen among citizens” and one who “leads in a consensus-building way.”

State Sen. Benjamin Downing and Rep. Richard Neal were unable to make it to the event, but they each left congratulatory remarks for Mr. Del Gallo. Mr. Sherman read a written citation signed by Sen. Downing, and the guests in attendance watched a special video message from Rep. Neal.

In his video message, Rep. Neal called Mr. Del Gallo “a humble and hard-working man” and a “shining example of what public service should be about.”

Posted by Dana Drugmand on May 30, 2013. Filed under Community News,Featured,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry