1970 Donald Bilodeau
1971 William Phillips P.D.G.
1972 David H. Coutermash
1973 Edward Papandrea P.D.G.
1974 David Seitlinger
1975 Robert M. Butterfield
1976 Henry J. Zagorski
1977 Francis S. Noonan
1978 Joseph R. Vumback
1979 Mario Verdolini
1980 Salvatore Russo
1981 Charles Steigler
1982 Thomas Crean
1983 Frederick Danby
1984 Thomas Noonan
1985 Richard N. Barba
1986 Vincent T. Mule
1987 Peter J. Gostyla P.D.G.
1988 Dr. David W. Parke
1989 Benny P. Trella
1990 Stephen J. Richards
1991 John E. Neville
1992 Conrad D. Kuzmich
1993 Francis H. Zygmont
1994 Vincent Caramanello
1995 Howard Park
1996 Michael Szymaszek
1997 Jack Fontanella
1998 John Albano
1999 Robert Keene
2000 Joseph Crowell
2001 William Murdy
2002 Edward Haberli
2003 Franklin Phillips
2004 Tracy Church
2005 Richard Carino
2006 William Panciera
2007 Thomas Raffile
2008 Arthur Forcier
2009 Bruce Maslar
2010 Ken Post
2011 William Lutz
2012 James Bartolotta
2013 Stephen Zerio
2014 Les "Buck" Herbst
2015 James Moran Jr.
2016 Ralph Riello
2017 Joseph Berg
2018 Mike Zakrzewski
2019 Kenneth Morgan
HISTORY OF THE LIONS CLUB
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MERIDEN LIONS CLUB
Chicago Businessman Melvin Jones conceived the Lions Club concept in 1917 when he asked, “What if men put their talents together into
improving the community?” In 1925, Helen Keller attended the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged the Lions to become
"Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness." The Lions accepted Keller's challenge and our work ever since have included sight
programs aimed at preventable blindness. The Meriden Lions Club is one of the oldest Clubs in Connecticut, Chartered in November 1923, it
has served Meriden continuously ever since. We have a well-deserved reputation for “Dirty Hands Projects” that feature members’ talents and
services in service to our community, in the spirit of founder Melvin Jones. Major Lions projects are often the decision of the President,
and/or Board of Directors, and approved by the club members, with the goal of filling a need and benefit in the community. Each year, a
“President’s Project” is allocated financial resources in addition to the prodigious talents of our membership. The Meriden Lions provide a
host of humanitarian activities that return over $70,000 annually into the community, in addition to providing community assistance in a wide
range of charitable events throughout the city. These activities are possible thanks to the major fund raising events conducted by the
Meriden Lions, and the generous financial support from the Corporate and Business community. All of the dedicated Meriden Lions Club
members share a common goal; To Serve the Community.
1924 Carl T. Kent
1925 H.J. Reeves
1926 Dr. H.C. Quinlan
1927 Donald M. Cameron
1928 Sanford H. Wendover
1929 George J. Sokol
1930 Richard M. Rice
1931 Irving D. Fowler
1932 Kenneth C Woodward
1933 Harold R. Magowan
1934 James H. Doak
1935 Frank W. Drechsler
1936 Robert M. Downing
1937 Julius C. Stremlau
1938 John R. Sexton
1939 Stanley F. McGar
1940 Henry J. Foell
1941 I. Irving Hance, Sr.
1942 John C. Petrucelli
1943 James F. Hirst
1944 William F. Lynch
1945 Ferguson D. Robinson
1946 I. Irving Hance, Jr.
1947 Ralph A. Clark
1948 Albert F. Sprafke, P.D.G.
1949 Dr. Robert I. Bunnell
1950 Spencer D. Hirst P.D.G.
1951 Henry G. Zimmerman
1952 Robert W. Seekamp
1953 Robert T. Hackbarth
1954 Edward G. Knell
1955 Frederick H. Mills
1956 Fred H. Edwards
1957 Ralph R. Merril
1958 Harold R. Lampfier
1959 A. Leo Ricci
1960 Charles J. Gibbons
1961 Fred J. Knell
1962 Edward Papandrea P.D.G.
1963 Robert E. Marth
1964 William L. Roberts P.D.G.
1965 Kenneth S. Grandy
1966 Theodore Samaris
1967 Rene Tompkinson P.D.G.
1968 Russel Weldon P.D.G.
1969 William Pappas
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE MERIDEN LIONS CLUB
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1939 Howard F. Saviteer
1952 Spencer B. Hirst
1954 Albert F. Sprafke
1965 Edward J. Papandrea
1970 Russell H. Weldon Jr.
1973 Theodore Samaris
1975 William L. Roberts
1982 William D. Phillips Jr.
1987 Rene H. Tompkinson
1992 Peter J. Gostyla
2013 Edward Haberli
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS FROM THE MERIDEN LIONS
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LION OF THE YEAR
1973 David Seitlinger
1974 Henry Zagorski
1975 Mario Verdolini
1976 Robert Butterfield
1977 None Presented
1978 William Phillips
1979 Peter Gostyla
1980 Henry Zagorski
1981 Francis Noonan
1982 A. Leo Ricci
1983 Charles R. Stealer
1984 Stephen Richards
1985 Lee Barbagli
1986 Rene Tompkinson
1987 Vincent Mule
1988 Francis Zygmont
1989 Jack Service
1990 Charles R. Steigler
1991 Michael Szymaszek
1992 Lee Barbagli
1993 John Albano
1994 Vincent Mule
1995 Conrad Kuzmich
1996 Joseph Crowell
1997 Francis Zygmont
1998 James Mosier
1999 David Edgington
2000 William Murdy
2001 William Panciera
2002 James Bartolotta
2003 Larry Moto
2004 Thomas Raffile
2005 Richard Carino
2006 Ken Post
2007 Francis Zygmont
2008 Edward Haberli
2009 Walter Camp
2010 George Carabetta Sr.
2011 Les Herbst
2012 Dave Swedock
2013 Dave Lohman
2014 Jim Moran Jr.
2015 Michael Zakrzewski
2016 Jack Neville
2017 Steve Richards
2018 Joseph Fornaciari
2019 Paul Frasco
OLD TIMER OF THE YEAR
1999 William D. Phillips Jr.
2000 John Alfieri
2001 Henry Zagorski
2002 George Carabetta Sr.
& Mario Verdolini
2003 David Parke
2004 Vincent Mule
2005 Francis Zygmont
2006 Jack Neville
2007 Jack Fontanella
2008 Stephen Richards
2009 Michael Szymaszek
2010 William O’Loughlin
2011 Vince Caramanello
2012 Ron Berndt
2013 Walter Camp
2014 Arthur Forcier
2015 Nelson Cossette &
Benny Trella
2016 William Panciera
2017 PDG Ed Haberli
2018 Dave Lohman
2019 Jim Bartolotta
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1999 David Edginton
2000 David Lohman
2001 Joseph S. Crowell
2002 Patrick Carbone
2003 Thomas Raffile
2004 Larry Moro
2005 Les Herbst
2006 Dan Boutot
2007 Dan Smith
2008 Paul Frasco
2009 Arthur Coscuna Jr
2010 David Swedock
2011 Gary Boudreau
2012 Daniel Pelletier
2013 Mike Zakrzewski
2014 John Beardsley Sr.
2015 Ronald Gordon
2016 Donald Rochette
2017 Dave Martancik
2018 Ken Gagne
2019 Wayne Lukonis
MELVIN JONES FELLOWS
John Alfier
Mark Appellof
James Bartolotta
John Beardsley
Ron Berndt
Ryan Brechlin
Thomas Burr
Walter Camp (1Diamond Y.G.)
George Carabetta Sr (1 Diamond Y.G.)
David J. Carabetta
Vincent Caramanello
Richard Carino
Joseph Crowell (1 Diamond Y.G.)
Jack Fontanella
Arthur Forcier
Paul Frasco
Kenneth Gagne
Peter Gostyla (5Diamond Y.G.)
Raymond Gradwell
PDG Ed Haberli (1 Diamond Y.G.)
Ted Hein
Les Herbst
David Lohman
William Lutz
Brian Mahon
David Martancik
Bruce Maslar
James Moran Jr.
Vincent Mule
William Murdy
William O'Loughlin
Jack Neville
William Panciera (1Diamond Y.G.)
David W. Parke
Catherine Phillips---Special Award
William D. Phillips Jr (3 Diamond Y.G.)
Franklin Phillips
Kenneth Post (2 Diamond Y.G.)
Thomas Raffile
Stephen Richards
Ralph Riello
Don Rochette
David Swedock
Michael Szymaszek (1 Diamond Y.G.)
John Thorp
PDG Rene Tompkinson
Mario Verdolini
PDG Russell Weldon
Michael Zakrzewski
Stephen Zerio
Francis Zygmont (1 Diamond Y.G.)
KNIGHTS OF THE BLIND
John Alfieri
Mark Appellof
Lee Barbagli
Joseph Berg
James Bartolotta
Ronald Berndt
Ryan Brechlin
Thomas Burr
Walter Camp
David Carabetta
George Carabetta Sr.
Vincent Caramanello
Richard Carino
Joseph Crowell
Arthur Forcier
Paul Frasco
Peter Gostyla
Raymond Gradwell
PDG Edward Haberli
Les Herbst
Conrad Kuzmich
David Lohman
Brian Mahon
James Moran, Jr.
Kenneth Morgan
Vincent Mule
David Murdy
William Panciera
Howard Park
David Parke
Franklin Phillips
Ken Post
Tim Puglielli
Thomas Raffile
Stephen Richards
Ralph Riello
William Roberts
David Swedock
Michael Szymaszek
John Thorp
Paul Usanis
Michael Zakrzewski
Steven Zerio
Francis Zygmont
PRESIDENTS PROJECTS THE MERIDEN LIONS CLUB ALLOCATES SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT EACH YEAR TO CHOSE A PROJECT THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. THE FOLLOWING LIST IS THE COMPILATION OF THOSE PROJECTS.
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1950’s Major Lions Project
Hubbard Park & Ceppa Field
Field Swimming Pools
1967 Rene Tompkinson
Ski Lift / Tow Rope at Golf Course
1968 Russel Weldon
$100 Dinner Dance
1969 William Pappas
$100 Dinner Dance
1970 Donald Bilodeau
$100 Dinner Dance
1971 William Phillips
Restrooms at Undercliffe Hospital
1972 David H. Coutermash
1973 Edward Papandrea
1974 David Seitlinger
1975 Robert M. Butterfield
1976 Henry J. Zagorski
1977 Francis S. Noonan
Rebuilt Ceppa Field Pool
1978 Joseph R. Vumback
Bath House at Baldwins Pond
1979 Mario Verdolini
Refurbished Pool at Hubbard Park
1980 Salvatore Russo
1981 Charles Steigler
Gazebo’s, Willow & Hanover Towers
1982 Thomas Crean
1983 Frederick Danby
1984 Thomas Noonan
Stairs at Castle Craig
1985 Richard N. Barba
Station Wagon for Easter Seals
1986 Vincent T. Mule
Flag Pole & Flag on West Peak
1987 Peter J. Gostyla
Handicapped Van for Easter Seals
1988 Dr. David W. Parke
Cancer Center Furniture at Old
1989 Benny Trella
Original Playscape at Hubbard Park
1990 Stephen J. Richards
Flag Pole Lighting at West Peak
1991 John E. Neville
Rebuilt Hubbard Park Pool
1992 Conrad D. Kuzmich
Drinking Fountain Memorial West Main
1993 Francis H. Zygmont
Red Bridge Overhaul
1994 Vincent Caramanello
Lions Club Genealogy Room at the
Meriden Public Library
1995 Howard Park
Cages at Humane Society
1996 Michael Szymaszek
Equipment for Girls Softball league
1997 Jack Fontanella
Computer Room at Boys & Girls Club
1998 John Albano
Water Park at City Park
1999 Robert Keene
Bath House updates at YMCA Camp
2000 Joseph Crowell
Air Conditioning & Electrical Upgrade
at Nerden Camp
2001 William Murdy
Rebuilt Wading Pool at Hubbard Park
2002 Edward Haberli
Lions Learning Center at QRWA
2003 Franklin Phillips
Financial Assistance for P.P.’s
2004 Tracy Church
Kitchen at Augusta Curtis C.C.
2005 Richard Carino
Obelisk’s & Parking Lot at Linear Trail
2006 William Panciera
Obelisk’s & Parking Lot at Linear Trail
2007 Thomas Raffile
Storage Facility at BMX
2008 Arthur Forcier
Lions Learning Center at QRWA
2009 Bruce Maslar
Batting Cages at Girls Softball Field

AMBASSADOR OF SIGHT
John Albano
Mark Appellof
Joseph Berg
John Beardsley Sr.,
Gary Boudreau
Thomas Burr
Walter Camp
George Carabetta, Sr
David Carabetta
Vincent Caramanello
Richard Carino
Arthur Coscuna
Joseph Crowell
Marion Crowell
Jack Fontanella
Arthur Forcier
Kenneth Gagne
Ronald Gordon
Peter Gostyla
Raymond Gradwell Jr.
Herbert Greenbacker
Edward Haberli 1st PAOS
Les Herbst
Peter Hoydilla
Timothy Katkauskas
David Lohman
William Lutz
David Martancik
Brian Mahon
James Moran Jr. 2nd PAOS
Kenneth Morgan
Vincent Mule
David Murdy
William O’Loughlin
William Panciera
Howard Park
David W. Parke
Franklin Phillips
William D. Phillips Jr
Kenneth Post 1st PAOS
Thomas Raffile
Stephen Richards
Ralph Riello
Donald Rochetta
Edward Rogers
David Swedock
Michael Szymaszek
Mario Verdolini
Michael Zakrzewski
Stephen Zerio
Francis Zygmont