THE EASTCHESTER COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE

PHILIP A. PINTO, JR.

The 2022 Grand Marshall of the Eastchester-Bronxville-Tuckahoe Columbus Day Parade is posthumously awarded to Captain Phil Pinto of the Eastchester Fire Department.

Philip A. Pinto Jr. was born and raised in the Town of Eastchester, known as “Fud” to all who knew him.

Phil was educated through the Eastchester school system and attended Waverly School, Eastchester Middle School, and graduated from Eastchester High School in1985.

At the age of 22, Phil began his career at the Eastchester Fire Department and served a prestigious career of 32 years.  He served the Eastchester Fire Department with pride, commitment and dedication and rose to the rank of Captain.  His loyalty to his hometown, community, family and friends was immeasurable.

His pride and joy was his family and friends and was always involved in coaching T-ball, Eastchester Little League, Eastchester Blue Devils Football. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, woodworking and traveling.  He also enjoyed having a “Johnnie Walker Black” and a cigar with his fellow firefighters.

Phil “Fud” was the son of Philip and Joan Pinto, brother to Anthony (Carol) and Diana (Tommy).  He was married to Lisa for 30 years and had 2 beautiful children Lauren (Tim) and Philip.

He leaves behind a legacy which will make an impact to those that he touched.

Michael LiCalzi

Michael Licalzi is a graduate of Eastchester High School and resides here in the Town of Eastchester with his wife Debbie and their two Children.

Growing up here in town, Michael took advantage of many of the recreational programs the town offered including baseball and Blue Devils Football. His involvement in town organized sports and programming led him to a professional career that always kept the town near to his heart. 

For over 30 years, Michael has owned and operated Licalzi Plumbing and Heating, Inc. Further, Michael has gone on to serve as a Assistant Plumbing Inspector for the City of New Rochelle. His professional career has afforded him a reputation as being THE plumber for the town and its villages, especially at times of emergency. 

Michael has donated significant time and hard work into meeting the needs of our town both on the job, and off the clock. A large supporter of local sports programming, Michael provided unmatched expertise and guidance in ensuring that the Haindl Field facility operated to its full potential. In a similar fashion, Michael provided the same degree of guidance and assistance recently in getting the towns new, state of the art community center located at Lake Isle online and ready to provide years of enjoyment for our residents and seniors.

Peter & Christine Telesco

Peter has been a lifelong resident of Eastchester, and the Telesco family immigrated to The United States from the region of Basilicata, Italy, and the town of Avigliano from southern Italy at the turn of the century. He is proud to be a second-generation Italian American. He has been a member of the Eastchester Italian American Club for the past 40 plus years and the President of The Telesco Lawnmower and Outdoor Power Equipment Shop in town, which is celebrating its 66^th year in business. Peter also was the founder of the Eastchester Cup Golf Tournament eight years ago that is a friendly golf outing the Italian American Citizens Club and the Eastchester Irish American Social Club, for the purpose of raising money to benefit local students for scholarship.

Christine was born and raised in Brooklyn and then Hawthorne, New York. She is of Irish and German heritage and a proud second-generation Irish American. Over the years they have both embraced their traditions and cultures and have been able to take courses and classes in Italian and are well on their way to becoming proficient in the beautiful Italian language. This past September, they proudly celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary in Tuscany and Umbria.

As a couple, Peter, and Christine love to travel, entertain, volunteer, and host many events for the Eastchester Italian American Citizens Cub and The VFW in town. Christine’s father, Raymond instilled in her a great sense of pride as an American and love for this great nation. Over the years Christine has volunteered her time to help at Westchester Community College with an elite mentoring program for students that were involved in the financial and accounting programs there. Christine is a financial advisor and senior director of investments at a firm located in New York City and her office is located in White Plains, NY. Paying it forward is the motto that she follows in life and is very grateful for every opportunity that was given to her in her almost 40-year career.

As a young adult, Christine had the amazing good fortune of having been in the company of his Holiness Pope John Paul II and later in her adult life meeting the 14^th Dalai Lama. The lessons of love, change for goodness, and paying it forward in life, is the path she follows in her life to this day. Peter and Christine have great faith and feel that with this faith and the love they share, that has been behind the beautiful life they live and the strength they have to continue to celebrate life.

It’s with great pride and happiness that they accept the honor of the 2022 Monsignor Anthony Maltese Humanitarian Award. They live their lives honoring the tradition that this award stands for each and every day.