Submitted by Veronica Chiavaroli
One of the things my father has loved about his campaign for state office is the interesting residents with unique stories and experiences he has met along the way. He has also learned a lot about himself through these interactions. What he never expected was to meet a part of his ancestry right here in Greenwich.
One morning, while having breakfast at Sweet Pea’s, Hector was politely approached by a man who asked if he was the same Hector Arzeno he had seen on the signs for State Representative in 2020. Héctor replied, “yes”, thinking he was reconnecting with someone he had met a few years back, but what he didn’t expect to hear in return was, “I am an Arzeno too!”
Hector and this relative of his compared bits of their shared name. Hector’s ancestors, like George’s, left Italy from a small town outside Genoa. They both knew that three Arzeno brothers had left Italy and the destination was Argentina. More specifically, they were planning to settle in Buenos Aires, which has been characterized as a European city, with many of its residents descending from Italy, Spain and Germany. Indeed, Italian is among the largest ethnic origins of modern Argentines.
Ultimately, two of the three brothers stopped in the Caribbean and only one made it to Argentina. Even apart, the three brothers passed down their heritage, which Hector embraced from an early age, with his appreciation of a home cooked meal surrounded by food, family and friends. Hector and George have built their relationship, continuing to find the connections in their ancestry and shared cultural backgrounds.
When my father, Hector, first moved to Greenwich, he was not as connected with local town business as he is now on the RTM Finance Committee. Yes, he read the Greenwich Times religiously, and voted in all elections, but with a demanding job and a young family, there was not much time for anything else. His free time was spent supporting his children and our activities, as well as our schools, where he served lunch and volunteered on the Sustainability Committee. He even helped to bring renewable energy to the campus and reduced CO2 emissions by eliminating idling cars at pick-up and drop-off.
What I know is that service has always given my father great joy, whether in the hallways providing school tours or coaching on the soccer field. And in the strangest of places, his service has brought about delightful discoveries, like a connection and return to his Italian and Argentine heritage. This community has provided friends, activities, and a great education for our family. As your candidate for State Representative for the 151st, I know Héctor, my father, will serve us all as a loyal, compassionate and encouraging leader he has always been.
NOTE: The deadline for submitting letters to the editor regarding the Nov 8, 2022 election is Nov 1 by 12:00 noon.