Michael and Elizabeth Dalton Family Fund

A passion for life and helping others is the way many remember longtime Ansonia resident Michael Dalton. Even when he and his wife Elizabeth (Bonnie) retired to Narragansett, RI, their hearts remained with the Valley.

A public school teacher and administrator in Ansonia for 35 years, there are not too many residents who didn't have a run in with "Mr. Dalton" at some point, his daughter Sarah Muoio said. "He was a legend in Ansonia. Up until the day he died, he still had teachers calling him for advice. He was a great person to work with and work for."

Sarah specifically remembers her father once waking her in the middle of the night. They had to go to open the school; a house fire had just left one of his students and family homeless, and he was going to make sure they had a place to sleep. He later organized a fundraiser for this same family to help them get back on their feet.

"He did so much for the families of his students when he was a principal, and he was always involved in the community because he wanted to be accessible to everyone," said Sarah.

Michael talked often during his lifetime about setting up a fund at the Valley Community Foundation, in order to support educational programs for Valley children who are less fortunate. After his passing, Sarah emailed VCF President and CEO Sharon Closius, who was quick to provide assistance with creating this fund to accept the flood of donations in her father's memory.

"Sharon was very sympathetic and encouraging for us, as we saw donations coming in. Our hope is that it can become a permanent fund in the coming years, so that we can carry out his wishes and continue his legacy for the generations who won't have the chance to meet him."