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Ridgefield News
May 5, 2001

Dick Venus Honored

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Hundreds Turn Out To Honor Dick Venus

First Selectman Marconi Dedicates "Venus Municipal Building;"
Sen. Dodd Hails "A Great Citizen"

First Selectman Marconi (at podium) dedicates the old high school to Dick Venus as Sen. Chris Dodd (seated, far right) and Venus (seated, left of Sen. Dodd) look on. Former First Selectman Lou Fossi (seated, colored shirt, in front of flag) also spoke.
May 5 -- Ridgefield's "Mr. Democrat," Dick Venus, was honored today as the old high school on East Ridge was formally dedicated as the Richard E. Venus Municipal Building. Venus, former milkman, Ridgefield Postmaster and Selectman, and current Town Historian, was honored by US Sen. Chris Dodd, First Selectman Rudy Marconi, and nearly 200 well-wishers who came out to thank Dick for his decades of service to the community. Sen. Dodd, saying "I come today not as a Senator, but as a son," recalled that his father, US Sen. Tom Dodd, "never had a better friend than Dick Venus." Dodd reflected that "there's no higher honor in our country than to be a good citizen. Dick Venus has been a great citizen."

"Bring Jack Tobin Back"
Sen. Dodd also told the crowd that "We're going to bring Jack Tobin back." Ridgefielder Tobin has been sentenced to serve more than 3 years in a Russian jail for alleged drug violations. Dodd told the audience that he had met with Jack's father, John Tobin, just before today's ceremony, and was committed to bringing the young Ridgefielder home.

Honoree Dick Venus (left) chats with Sen. Chris Dodd (right) before the ceremony.

"Vote Like A Democrat"
Dodd also noted that "Ridgefield is a lovely town, dominated by Republicans," and with a glance at First Selectman Rudy Marconi, "but with great Democratic leadership. This proves that if you want to live like a Republican, vote like a Democrat." DTC Chair Jim Diamond, and former Ridgefield Democratic leaders Lou Fossi, Phyllis Tupper-Tiso, John Kukulka, and many others turned out today to honor Dick Venus.



Perhaps first among the many well-wishers for Dick Venus was his wife of 61 years, Marie (photo, left). She received a standing ovation from the crowd when she was introduced from the podium.
(Right) Thomas Nash, publisher of The Ridgefield Press, presented the original woodcut of a cartoon the paper ran years ago, featuring Mr. Venus.


Current and past Ridgefield Democratic leaders gathered for a bit of a renunion - both to honor Dick Venus and to join in welcoming Chris Dodd back to Ridgefield. (Photo, left - from the left) Current First Selectman Rudy Marconi joined with Lou Fossi, a First Selectman from the 1970's; Jim Diamond, curent DTC Chair; Sen. Dodd, DTC Chair John Kukulka from the late 1990's; and Phyllis Tupper-Tiso, Town Chair from the early 90's. Lou Fossi is retired and living in S. Carolina. Phyllis Tupper-Tiso and her husband recently moved from Ridgefield to Southbury.
(Right) Sen. Dodd wanted to the the first to endorse Rudy Marconi for a second term as Ridgefield's First Selectman. When informed that Rudy had not yet announced his intent, the Senator insisted that he was endorsing him anyway.


(Left) Sen. Dodd met with John Tobin, father of Ridgefield Fulbright scholar Jack Tobin, who was arrested while studying in Russia and sentenced to more than 3 years in prison. John briefs the Senator on his son's case, and asks him to step up the government's efforts to free his son.
(Right) Minutes later, Sen. Dodd responded, saying emphatically in his remarks to the crowd, "We're going to bring Jack Tobin back!"

First Selectman Marconi emphasized his support to the Tobin family as well. In his remarks to the crowd, he held up the current edition of The Ridgefield Press. Marconi noted that there were two major stories about two great Ridgefielders - Dick Venus, being honored by today's ceremony - and Jack Tobin, held in a Russian prison. Marconi urged everyone to "say a prayer, send a letter" on behalf of Tobin. Marconi, who has been working quietly with governmental officials on Jack Tobin's behalf, had arranged today's meeting between the elder Tobin and Sen. Dodd.


More photos, story here

Richard E. Venus: Grand Storyteller
A biography from The Ridgefield Press
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Brought to you by the Ridgefield, Ct. Democratic Town Committee, Jim Diamond, Chairman
Paid for by The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee, Edwin C. Pearson, Treasurer

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