Former Norwalk Mayor Dies At 85

NORWALK, CT — Frank N. Zullo, a beloved husband, father and attorney, and the youngest mayor of Norwalk in the city’s history when elected, died peacefully Saturday, May 26, at the age of 85.

According to his obituary, Zullo was a "major figure and positive influence" in the community for over 55 years. He served three terms as mayor of Norwalk, a position to which he was elected in 1965 at age 33.

He was the beloved husband of Berenice Fischler Zullo and father of Lesley Anne Zullo. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was named “Young Man of the Year” in 1958 by the Norwalk Junior Chamber of Commerce, and in 1959 he entered the partnership of Tierney & Zullo, known today as Tierney, Zullo, Flaherty and Murphy, P.C.

Except for his three terms as mayor and six months of active duty with the Connecticut National Guard, Zullo practiced law full-time for over 50 years. He was a general practitioner specializing in planning and zoning, as well as real estate development.

Together with the then mayor of New Haven, Richard Lee, he formed the Connecticut Conference of Mayors in 1966, where he was elected as Conference President from 1968 to 1969 and served on its Executive Committee until 1971.

From 1969 to 1971, he was elected to the Board of Trustees and the Executive Board of the United States Conference of Mayors.

Zullo was also campaign treasurer for Connecticut’s Senior United States Senator Christopher J. Dodd from 1980 to 2010, and he served on the boards of a number of Norwalk staples, including Norwalk Hospital and the Maritime Aquarium.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Philip Church (1 Fr. Conlon Pl., Norwalk) on Friday, June 1, at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery. His family will receive friends at the Magner Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donation in his name may be made to St. Philip Church.

His full obituary can be read at magnerfuneralhome.com.

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