Pasquale "Pat" Battinelli
2005
The expression “Once a Marine – Always a Marine” would seem to have been coined with
Pat Battinelli in mind. Whether it’s the scarlet & gold baseball cap with the assortment of USMC pins; whether it’s the USMC vanity plate on his van, or whether it’s the scarlet & gold USMC banner on the flagpole in front of his Glenbrook home; Pat leaves no doubt as to his military affiliation.
Pat enlisted in the Marine Corps soon after the start of the Korean War. After surviving boot camp at the infamous Parris Island Recruit Depot, he took Advanced Combat Training at Camp Pendleton in California and eventually was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force where he served in the Pacific theater for the remainder of his enlistment.
A lifelong local resident, Pat spent a dozen years as a Stamford firefighter. When he left the Department to go into his painting business, he joined the Glenbrook Volunteers, and eventually rose to the rank of Chief.
Pat is presently chairman of the Stamford Patriotic and Special Events Commission, a post which he has held for over 15 years. He is responsible for the planning and execution of the fine holiday parades held in Stamford, working diligently to recruit outstanding bands and marching units as well as organizing local participating groups. Additionally, he is Commandant of the local chapter of the Marine Corps League.
He is married to the former Gloria Fabrizio. They have four children and eleven grandchildren.