Angelina and Valentina Vitali Fund

Vitali had a deep love for the Valley. She was born and raised in Derby by Italian immigrant parents Augusto and Marcella Vitali, along with her sister Angelina, and her brothers Louis and Nelson. She moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for the government for 42 years until herretirement, when she returned home to live the remainder of her life with her mother and sister.

Valentina wanted to honor Angelina, who, except for attending the College of New Rochelle, lived in the Valley for her entire life. She worked at Derby High School first as a biology teacher, and then later served as Vice Principal of the school until her retirement.

Miss Vitali's first cousin, Dorothy Saldamarco, discussed the possibility of creating a Fund through the community foundation that would forever remember the Vitali name in the Valley. Mrs. Saldamarco and her husband Frank had established such a Fund themselves to preserve her father's name and to honor his memory.

"I said to her, Val, this is something you can do, too,"said Mrs. Saldamarco. "It's a great idea, and can help so many people here in the Valley. She must have thought it was, too, and worked with her attorneys, Sabetta and Sabetta in Shelton, to remember the Foundation in her will."

In doing so, Miss Vitali is the first person to have left a bequest to the Valley Community Foundation. Her gift will establish the Angelina M. Vitali and Valentina V. Vitali Fund which supports a broad range of local needs.

"Val came from a family that was raised to save," said Mrs. Saldamarco. "But it's also important to use your money to benefit others who can really use it. Val Vitali was fortunate to have had the resources to keep her family's name alive and to help the Valley for years to come."

To make a tax-deductible contribution to this fund, please complete the secure, online credit card form below: