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Now, Corsello has taken on a new role as president at the Italian Center of Stamford, where he has been a member since 1970, when it opened its current facility on Newfield Avenue. He has been on the board for 17 years, and his four boys attended preschool there before they headed to public school.
“The facility is a great place to relax and socialize with friends,’’ Corsello said. “Using the pool during the summer is great. The lockers are clean, and the staff is very helpful. The fitness center and the indoor pool are available for exercise year round. Everything you need is here.”
The Italian Center formed in 1909 as the Italian Social Institute to help immigrants adjust to life in a new country. It has evolved to become a Stamford treasure for all residents. The club offers fitness and recreation classes, preschool and camps, social and cultural events and banquets. Club members are engaged in a host of community service activities. An open house is planned for June 2 from 3 to 6 p.m. Anyone interested in the Italian Center is encouraged to stop by. Staff will be available to give tours and answer questions, and entertainment will be provided for children.
Corsello does not see many changes on the horizon during his leadership. But he does want help the club run more efficiently and effectively.
“The board is made up of members from all professional walks of life and they are committed to running the Italian Center as efficiently and responsibly as possible,’’ he said. “We are lucky to have an Advisory Board who were on the board years ago, some of whom actually built the wonderful facility we are now in. I consider myself a steward and hope to see positive changes in facility efficiency, membership growth and satisfaction, as well as employee pride and satisfaction.”
The club could not have found a person with deeper Stamford roots. Corsello graduated from the former Rippowam High School and spent 22 years as a Stamford police officer. While on the force, he served as a street cop, homicide detective and community outreach officer.
His deeper background, however, is in music. Corsello followed his father, Tony, into the music industry and attended Berklee College of Music. After being discharged from the Army during the Vietnam era, Corsello, a drummer, played with the Glen Miller Orchestra and toured with Benny Goodman, Marian McPartland and Peggy Lee.
After retiring from the police force, he co-founded the Music Box, which allowed children of low-income families to learn how to play musical instruments. The students were taught for free by Corsello and other professional musicians.
He still picks up the drumsticks and is head jazz drum adjudicator for Connecticut. He started a Summer Jazz program at the Italian Center in 2005 and the club offers scholarships to young musicians who might not otherwise be able to afford the intensive two-week course.
Through his long association with the club, Corsello has heard it all from members. He said he’ll be glad to get employees and members’ input in his role as president.
“Knowing me and the rest of the board encourages great comments and suggestions, such as the addition of Zumba classes and the expansion of the fitness center,’’ he said. “The members on the board are a great mix of talent and commitment and the staff is equally committed to the club. It’s a family more than a business.”
