Angelo Tomasso Jr. (March 17, 1925 – September 18, 2015) was a businessman and philanthropist from
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately southwest of Hartford. According to 2020 Census, the population of the city is 74,135.
Among the southernmost of the communities encompassed wit ...
.
Early life and education
Tomasso was born on March 17, 1925, to Angelo and Nazzarena (Briganti) Tomasso. His parents were immigrants from the Italian region of
Abruzzo
Abruzzo (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Abruzzese Neapolitan, Abbrùzze , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; nap, label=Sabino dialect, Aquilano, Abbrùzzu; #History, historically Abruzzi) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy wi ...
. He was a member of the second generation of the
Tomasso construction dynasty. Tomasso attended St. Thomas Seminary and graduated from New Britain Senior High School in 1943.
Following graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a communications officer in the Amphibious Corps aboard the in the South Pacific.
Business career
In 1949 Angelo Tomasso Sr was injured in a tragic accident at the
Tomasso Group
The Tomasso Group is a family-run conglomerate focused on the construction and real estate industries based in New Britain, Connecticut.
History Angelo Tomasso Sr.
Angelo Tomasso immigrated to America from Abbateggio, Italy in 1910. Angelo ...
’s Plainville quarry and died in 1952 leaving the next generation to take over the company. All four Tomasso brothers joined the company’s leadership with Angelo Tomasso Jr. taking over the Presidency and
George A. Tomasso
George A. Tomasso (March 26, 1927 – January 10, 2010) was an American businessman. His strategy of consistent low bidding forced change on the construction industry in Connecticut. The director of the Connecticut Construction Industries Associat ...
becoming treasurer.
After WWII the company capitalized on the growth of
suburbia in Connecticut by building roads and highways to support the new patterns of development.
In 1972 the core construction business Angelo Tomasso, Inc was sold to Ashland Resources with Angelo Jr. staying on as senior vice president.
During the 1990s and early 2000s the Tomasso family, including Angelo Jr., enjoyed a close relationship with
Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland
John Grosvenor Rowland (born May 24, 1957) is an American politician, author, and convicted felon who served as the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004. He served two nonconsecutive prison terms on various corruption charges. A Repu ...
. On March 17, 2000 Governor Rowland declared it ''Angelo Tomasso Jr. Day''.
In 1990 he became the Chairman of Tilcon Inc. the direct successor company of Angelo Tomasso, Inc. In 2000 Tomasso retired as Chairman of Tilcon Inc.
Over the course of his business career he served as a director of the Connecticut Bank Federation, the New Britain Bank and Trust Company and
Connecticut Natural Gas.
Philanthropy
Tomasso was a founding members of the “Club with a Heart” which became The Hundred Club of Connecticut.
Awards and honors
On March 17, 2000, Connecticut Governor Rowland declared it ''Angelo Tomasso Jr. Day.’’
In 2017 Angelo Tomasso Jr. was inducted into the Connecticut Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame.
See also
*
Tomasso Group
The Tomasso Group is a family-run conglomerate focused on the construction and real estate industries based in New Britain, Connecticut.
History Angelo Tomasso Sr.
Angelo Tomasso immigrated to America from Abbateggio, Italy in 1910. Angelo ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomasso, Angelo
1925 births
2015 deaths
People from New Britain, Connecticut
Auburn University alumni
American people of Italian descent
United States Navy sailors