The Derby Historical Society has announced that the winner of this year’s Dorothy Larson Award is Rotarian Gary Scarpa. The award is presented annually to an individual for his or her many contributions to the community which in the spirit of the award’s namesake coincides with the mission of the Derby Historical Society, which is to preserve, protect, and honor our cultural and traditional values.
Gary Scarpa is a lifelong resident of Shelton. He enjoyed a lengthy and fulfilling career as an English teacher and guidance counselor at Shelton High School and he and his wife, Francesca, were inaugural inductees into the Shelton High School Hall of Fame in 2017. Gary and Fran are known throughout the region for their work in local theater, they founded Center Stage Theatre in Shelton in 2005, and they have been recognized by numerous organizations for excellence in theater. After retiring from both education and theater, Gary reinvented himself and began writing fiction. Since 2021, he has published three novels — Exit 14, What are the Chances?, and Still Life — all set in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. His first work of nonfiction, Lessons from the Stage, is set to be published this spring.
The luncheon will be on Sunday, April 12 at 1:00 PM at the J.R. Payden Fieldhouse, 75 Chatfield Street in Derby. Tickets may be purchased here.