Hamden Democratic Party Hall of Fame

2009 Inductees

Louis Affinito:
Lou was the Finance Director for Hamden for many years, and a member and chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals. An active Democrat, he served as Eighth District Chair for years. But, as Bill LaVelle explained, what sets Lou apart from everyone is the great affection that everyone has for him. He is truly one person in Hamden that everyone loves and admires.

Eleanor Curran:
Senator Dodd's letter noted that he first came in contact with her over 50 years ago, on his father's senatorial campaign in 1958. A former Deputy Registrar of Voters, Eleanor is a pillar of the Hamden Democratic Party.

Shirley Farm:
John Flanagan pointed out that Shirley's career demonstrates all that is good and important to Hamden, and to the Second District: Family, religion, community, public service and the Democratic Party. For over 30 years, she's been a member of the Connecticut Federation of Democratic Women, and has been on the Democratic Town Committee (both her and in her native Stratford) since 1971.

Peter Haller:
Peter has been a tireless community activist. As he said, this is the year of community organizers. Peter worked on the Farmington Canal Greenway Train Committee since the project began in 1993. He has been president of the Whitneyville Civic Association, and is an art teacher at Hamden's Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School.

Dr. Barry Herman:
Barry's resume is longer than we can possibly list. A former member of Hamden's Board of Education, he has served on a huge number of boards, among them the Hamden Human Services Commission, the New Haven Scholarship Board of Directors, the Ethnic Heritage Center (President), the School Administrators Association of New Haven and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven.

Elliott Kerzner:
A Hamden teacher for nearly 30 years, Elliott is treasurer emeritus of the Hamden Education Association and is a former member of both the Connecticut and National Education Association. Elliott is a member of the Hamden Police Commission, which he chairs; the Connecticut State Police Auxiliary; and the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut.

Peggy Rae:
Peggy served as Hamden's Democratic Registrar of Voters for ten years, overseeing a period of huge increase in Hamden voters, and especially in Hamden's Democratic voters. For three decades, Peggy has been active in Hamden school and community affairs.

Anthony Stratton:
Tony is an Irish immigrant, from County Leitrim, Ireland. He has been in the United States since 1963, and has served as a member of the Hamden Democratic Town Committee for many years. He has been very active in the New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club, and the Irish American Community Center, where he served as president.

Connie Vereen:
Connie has helped to organize her neighborhood, Cherry Ann Street, to help make it a true community. She started Clean-Up Days, she organized the Cherry Ann Street Annual Awareness Day, and the Cherry Ann Street Blockwatch Association.

Inductees were honored
at the 2009 HDTC Spring Gala
Thursday, May 7, 2009