Anthony Esposito, Sisto Melillo and Lynn Riordan Named Shining Stars

The North Branford Education Foundation is holding its annual Shining Star Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 14 at Woodwinds in Branford. Three North Branford residents will be honored, including Anthony Esposito, Sisto Melillo and Lynn Riordan.

Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased by calling Frank Mentone at 203-410-4254.

Anthony Esposito

Anthony P. Esposito Jr. is a product of the North Branford School System. He participates in a variety of community activities and wants a memorable and enjoyable childhood experience for his children, their friends and all the other children in town.

He credits his willingness to get involved to the examples provided by his parents.  Just like his father – Anthony Sr. – when the need for Little League coaches was announced, he came forward.  Just like his mother – Marie – when the need for religious education teachers was announced – he came forward.  He also enjoys providing his DJ services for many fundraising activities run by a multitude of different groups in town – among them various PTO’s, nursery schools and the ANGELS Foundation.

He lives with his wife Kathy and four children Jon, Noelle, Abby and Jay – and thanks them for their love and continued support.

Esposito says “what makes North Branford so great is the willingness of so many people to get involved.”

Sisto Melillo

Sisto Melillo grew up in West Haven and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1978. He then went on to Eastern Connecticut State College where he double majored in Business and Sociology. Upon graduating, he sold and brokered insurance products. Shortly after that he decided to follow in his parents footsteps and join the retail business world. In 1991 he opened Save & Discount on Rte. 80, where he has served the people of North Branford and surrounding areas for more than twenty two years.

Soon after opening his business, he moved to North Branford and he has become a valuable asset to the community ever since. He served as a coach and Board member for the North Branford Little League for close to ten years. For several years he took charge as the sponsor coordinator where he would raise close to $15,000 a year, to benefit the program.

Besides Little League, he joined the North Branford High School Football Team Touchdown Club where he eventually served two terms as vice president. Also, for the past five years he can be seen at varsity home football games as part of the chain gang on the sidelines.

If you have been to a school function and the room is decorated with balloons, it's more than likely they came from Save & Discount and it's usually without a bill. He has sponsored and donated product to so many functions for our school children as well as our community, that it would be too numerous to name them all. Each year, he is instrumental in setting up "Santa's Workshops" at our elementary schools so students can go shopping for Christmas gifts at an affordable rate for the youngsters.

In his 22 years at Save & Discount, Sisto has employed more than 200 people most of them students. He continues to keep track of their progress during high school, college and beyond.

He is the proud parent of Julianna (2003 NBHS graduate), Matthew (a 2011 graduate) and Kayleigh, a student at NBIS. His wife Rita is also a graduate of North Branford High school, Class of 1980.

Lynn Riordan

Lynn Riordan was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. At the age of seven, she moved to the United States with her parents, three sisters and brother. She graduated from Milford High School in 1981. After which, she went to school to become a Radiologic Technologist and then a Radiation Therapist at South Central Community College, graduating in 1986. She moved to North Branford in 2004 and she has been working as a Radiation Therapist in Radiation Oncology at the Shoreline Medical Center in Guilford.

She enjoys gardening and competing with her neighbors over whose grass is greener, and hanging out by her pool makes her happy. Her favorite time of year is any time on vacation with my family and friends. Her "greatest accomplishment hands down" is being a mother to Matt, Elise, Alexa and Mea.

"I would not be who I am today without the love and support of my wonderful husband Mark to whom I have been married for almost 9 years," she said. 
"There was a time I could say I had it all. There was nothing in my life I needed or wanted to change. I honestly felt my life was absolutely perfect. That all changed on Saturday May 23, 2009 when my son Matthew died in a car accident."

After suffering with the devastating loss on May 23, 2009 of her son Matthew who died in a car accident, Lynn  was inspired to establish Matt’s Mission Fund, a nonprofit organization which gives back to so many living in North Branford.

The purpose of Matt's Mission is to raise awareness  to the consequences of destructive driving conditions. The organization has donated funds for class dues, letter jackets, computers, prom bids, sports packages, Project Graduation, $18,000 for the Matt Picciuto Scholarship Fund and much more.

"Matt’s Mission Fund has grown bigger than I ever imagined. Yes, my plan is to keep doing just what I am doing for many years since one of my goals is to live to be one hundred years old," states Lynn.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter

________________________________________________________________________________________