Longtime Hamden Councilman Harry Gagliardi Dies At 76

HAMDEN, CT — Longtime Hamden Legislative Councilman Harry Gagliardi died Tuesday at the age of 76.

Gagliardi was currently serving as the councilman in the 2nd District and served in town politics for 15 years. He also spent 40 years as a public school teacher and principal and “loved his students,” according to his obituary.

Gagliardi, a Democrat, was elected and served as the council representative for three different Hamden town districts, which Mayor Curt Leng said is something that had never been done before.

“He cared about our Town and our seniors, he was an educator at heart, in his profession, and was someone who wanted to better our Town and be there for his constituents,” Leng wrote in a post on Facebook. “Hamden, especially his 2nd District, will miss his voice and advocacy. Even though we weren’t as close politically as we were in years past, I’ll miss him personally - he was a smart politician, a good man and one of the few Hamdenites left who had both history and the experience to offer and he knew how to use it.”

Fellow Councilman Austin Cesare, a Republican, said Gagliardi will “be sorely missed.”

“You were a great public servant and tremendous fellow educator and friend,” Cesare wrote in a tribute to Gagliardi on Facebook. “You represented the Second District well all these years and made Hamden a better place because of your commitment to our town. Councilman Gagliardi, Godspeed and rest in peace my friend.”