Frank N. Zullo (June 3, 1932 – May 26, 2018) was a Democratic mayor of Norwalk, Connecticut. At 33, he was the youngest person to be elected mayor in Norwalk's history and the city's first Italian American mayor. He served three terms from 1965 to 1971.
Early life Zullo was born and raised in Norwalk, and graduated from Norwalk High School. He passed the Connecticut Bar exam while still in law school at Fordham UniversityAvvo -Frank N Zullo and began practicing law in 1957. He was named "Young Man of the Year" by the Norwalk Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1958. In 1959, he entered the partnership of Tierney & Zullo (today Tierney, Zullo, Flaherty and Murphy, P.C.). He married Berenice. He served as an officer in the 43rd Infantry Division of the Connecticut Army National Guard.thehour.com website. "Way We Were", 20 June 2012. Accessed 25 March 2018.
Political career Zullo ran for mayor in 1965. At 33, he was the youngest person to be elected mayor in Norwalk's historyFirst District Water DepartmentThe Norwalk Hour -- Memories of Long Ago Politics and the city's first Italian-American mayor.The Norwalk Hour - Volunteer of the Year Honors for Deageo and ex-Mayor Zullo He served three terms from 1965 to 1971. He was campaign treasurer for Connecticut's senior United States senator, Christopher Dodd, beginning in 1980.
Mayoral administration Zullo helped form and was president of the Connecticut Conference of Mayors. He served three years as a trustee and member of the executive board of the United States Conference of Mayors.
Post-mayoral career He was chairman of the board of trustees and a life trustee of Norwalk Hospital from 1979 to 1981, and he served as a trustee almost continually since 1971, completing his last term in 2004. He served on the Board of Directors of Honey Hill Care Center since 1993 and on the hospital's foundation board from 1991 to 2010. A trustee of the University of Bridgeport since 1992, he served as board chairman in 1990 to 2000 and as co-chairman since 2001. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk since its inception and was board secretary.
From 1976 to 1993, Zullo was a director of VITAM, serving as its chairman from 1989 to 2001. He was a trustee of the YMCA of Norwalk for 33 years, and chaired its board for 12 years.
Associations Prosecutor, Norwalk City Court, 1959–1960 Minority Leader, Common Council, City of Norwalk, 1963–1965 Chairman: United Fund Drive, 1963–1964, 1964–1965; President, United Fund, 1965–1966, 1973-1974 Chairman, Board of Trustees, YMCA, 1987–1999 Board of Trustees, Vitam, 1990–1992 Member, Executive Committee, 1966–1971 and President, 1968–1969, Connecticut Conference of Mayors Member, Board of Trustees, 1971–1995, chairman, Board of Trustees, 1979–1982 and Counsel, 1987—, Norwalk Hospital State Trial Referee, 1984–1991 Member, Board of Trustees, Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, 1986— Tri-State Regional Planning Association, 1988–1995 Selection Committee, Ettinger Scholarship Program, 1989— Member, Norwalk-Wilton Bar Association (President, 1996–1997) and American Bar Associations. Board of Trustees, Five Town Foundation, 1990–1997 Member, 1991— and vice-chairman, 1994–1999, chairman, 1999—, Board of Trustees, University of Bridgeport Vice-chairman, Board of Directors, Honey Hill Care Center, 1993—.
Awards Zullo's honors and awards include:
Young Man of the Year Award, Norwalk Junior Chamber of Commerce, 1958, 1963 American Committee on Italian Migration Saint Ann's Club Norwalk Catholic Interracial Council Norwalk Jewish Center Connecticut Society of Architects Carver Foundation Association of Retarded Citizens Sons of Italy Boy Scouts of America Young Democratic Clubs of Connecticut Ma'ciison Sayles Community Service Award from the United Way of Norwalk & Wilton, and N.E.O.N.
Legacy The aquatic facility at the YMCA was named in Zullo's honor.
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