The Milford Columbus Committee has announced the 2026 award recipients for Italian-American of the Year, as well other awards and 2026 scholarship recipients.
Vitali
Milford Alderman Ray Vitale was named Italian-American of the Year. Vitale grew up in New Haven, and went on to spend 44 years as an educator in the Milford school system, with 42 years coming as an elementary school teacher and the final two years as a middle school principal. Over the course of his career, he has worked at Orange Avenue School, Calf Pen Meadow Elementary School, Live Oaks Elementary School, Seabreeze School, Live Oaks Elementary School and Harborside Middle School.
After retiring, Vitale spent the next 18 years serving on the Milford Board of Aldermen. In that capacity, he has worked closely with the Board of Education, Library Commission, Board of Health and the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. He has also served as president or chairman of CommuniCare, the United Way of Milford and the Milford Prevention Council.
Vitale has received numerous awards, including the Bridges Community Service Award, the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Humanitarian Award, the United Way Champion of Caring Award, the Milford Chamber of Commerce Human Service Award and the Liberty Bell Award from the Milford Bar Association. He received the key to the city in 2025.
Fabrizi
The committee has given a Special Achievement award to Anthony Fabrizi, the recently-retired chief of the Milford Fire Department.
At the age of 20, Fabrizi joined Huntington Fire Company No. 3 in Shelton, where he discovered his true calling. He joined the Milford Fire Department in 1993. Throughout the early years of his career, he worked in various stations throughout the city, gaining a broad range of experience and becoming deeply connected within the Milford community. Fabrizi was promoted to lieutenant in 2007, and his continued excellence earned him several more promotions, including training chief and public information officer.
Fabrizi was selected to serve as a charter member of Connecticut Task Force 1 – the state’s urban search and rescue team – where he would serve as a rescue specialist. He was appointed as chief of the MFD and the city’s emergency management director in 2023. After nearly 33 years of service, he retired on May 29.
Gettinger
The committee has also given a Special Recognition award to Benjamin D. Gettinger, who currently serves as the probate judge for the District of Milford-Orange. In addition, he is a commissioner on the Connecticut Law Review Commission, board member of the Rape Crisis Center of Milford, trustee to the Boys & Girls Club of Milford and a board member of the city’s Council on Aging.
Gettinger has also worked on the Milford Planning & Zoning Board, was a board member on the Milford Fine Arts Council, a board member on the Friends of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, a member on the Milford Zoning Board of Appeals and a representative to the South Central Regional Water Authority.
Gettinger is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a member of the American Bar Association, Connecticut Bar Association and Milford Bar Association. He is also a member of the National College of Probate Judges, the Connecticut Probate Judge Association and of the Connecticut Probate Court Assembly.
Lord
Magnuson
Vigilante
The winners of the committee’s student scholarships are all graduates of Joseph A Foran High School in Milford. Andrew Lord is going to the University of Connecticut; Lily Magnuson is attending the University of South Carolina; and Kaitlyn Vigilante will attend the College of the Holy Cross.
The announcement of the award recipients comes in advance of the committee’s 2026 dinner dance on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m., which will include an open bar and live music. For tickets, contact Davidespo13@gmail.com or call 203-996-0732. For more information, go to milfordcolumbuscommittee.org.