Veterans of Foreign War Post 10112 Service Officer Anthony “Tony” Marzullo was honored this month by Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo who declared May 8 Tony Marzullo Day.
In a proclamation Camillo noted that Mr. Marzullo, born in Greenwich Hospital on May 8, 1929, is a fourth generation and lifelong resident of Cos Cob.
Marzullo has passionately served and supported the Town’s veteran, horticultural, historical and educational non-profit organizations for more than 60 years.
He was drafted on January 4, 1952 and served in the Korean War in Germany as a US Army Combat Medic and then US Army Pharmacist, drawing on his science, technical and people skills to serve his country.
Following the war, Tony earned a degree in agronomy from Alfred State College in New York where he met Shirley Young. The couple married after she graduated in 1956, and together they have three children, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Camillo said Marzullo’s greatest passion is advocating for the benefits and rights of veterans.
He is a charter member of the Cos Cob Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10112, founded in 1968, and along with his Post members, he raises awareness of veterans and strengthen the organization’s ties with the Town through annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, scholarship funds, clothing drives and partnering with the Cos Cob School to educate students and celebrate patriotism.
Also, Connecticut and Greenwich parks have benefited from the Marzullo’s attention. As a member of the Connecticut Experimental Agricultural Station, the Greenwich Land Trust, the Greenwich Tree Conservancy, the Westchester Fairfield Horticultural Society and the American and Greenwich Dahlia societies, his contributions have been many.
He has designed and personally maintained the Cos Cob VFW Park and the Strickland Brook Park at Cos Cob Library.
His award winning dinner plate dahlias have earned him the nickname “Cos Cob Dahlia King,” and to this day he continues to teach and mentor dahlia enthusiasts.