Dan Leone and John Fusaro Jr. are the Norwich Italians of the Year
The Norwich Italian Heritage and Cultural Committee announced its Italians of the Year this week. The 2023 honorees are Dan Leone and John Fusaro Jr., according to a press release.
The requirements for an honoree to be recognized include living in the greater Norwich area, being of Italian descent, contributing to the betterment of the Italian community and the Norwich community, having the respect of the Italian community, and contributing to projects in the Italian community, the press release states.
The Cultural Committee will hold a fundraiser buffet on Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 10 Laura Boulevard, honoring Leone and Fusaro. The dinner costs $40 per person, and consists of antipasto, pasta, sausage, meatballs and chicken parmesan. Tickets must be bought in advance from Liberty Restaurant Supply at 426 East Main St., or from Cultural Committee President Frank Jacaruso, at 860-889-0864.
Dan Leone
Leone was born in 1932. Professionally, he managed Leone’s Pharmacy from his father’s death in 1961 until 1975, when he became executive vice president of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association. He was a part-time director of alumni relations for the UConn School of Pharmacy from 1996 to 2010.
Leone has been close to his Italian heritage since joining the United Italian Society of Norwich, which his grandfather co-founded. He was the president of the Norwich Jaycees in 1959, and served on Norwich committees, including the Norwich Charter Revision Committee of 1967, the Norwich Citizens' Advisory Committee on Urban Renewal, and the Norwich Health District Study Committee.
At the state level, Leone served on the Connecticut Commission of Pharmacy from 1972 to 1975, and in various positions for UConn. Currently, he is a member of White Cross Council Knights of Columbus, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and Rho Chi Honor Society.
John Fusaro Jr.
After graduating Norwich Free Academy in 1961, Fusaro became an apprentice meat cutter at Melvin’s Shop Rite in Norwichtown. After working for multiple grocers and butchers in Norwich, he became a meat inspector for the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection in 1970, and a USDA inspector in 1975.
Fusaro bought a butcher’s shop in Salem with his business partner and fellow meat inspector Tom Rozanski in 1986. The store became Salem Prime Cuts, which is now run by Fusaro, his son John Fusaro III, daughter-in-law Nanci Fusaro, and grandson John “Jake” Fusaro IV.
Fusaro was a member and recording secretary for the East Great Plains Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the Norwich Elks. Currently, he is a part of the Norwich Italian Society and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich Italians of the Year: Dan Leone and John Fusaro Jr.
