2024 Persons of the Year
Tony and Barbara Lorusso
This year’s Honorees are two more examples of Walpole’s Finest. Both born and raised here in Walpole Tony and Barbara grew up in two different areas of the town. Both ultimate graduates of Walpole Schools, they eventually met in High School and started dating. Upon both their graduations Tony and Barbara married in 1969 living here their whole lives They raised two children, AJ who is married to Nina and daughter Andrea who is married to Jeff they have 4 beautiful granddaughters: Vivian and Isabella along with Noele and Julia.
Tony’s father started SML Lorusso Corp in 1940 and died young in 1968. Tony and his two brothers Jimmy and Sammy stepped in to take over the company at very young ages. Those early years were extremely difficult to keep the business running and try to grow it. Tony credits Barbara for “being his Rock”, giving him the time to focus on what needed to be done at the plant, taking care of everything on the home front.
What started for the 3 brothers as a business struggling just to hang on, it has grown into a multi-tiered Corporation with subsidiaries in the many different areas of their core business with the parent company sitting over all of them.
Tony and Barbara over the years have quietly embroidered themselves into some key areas of Walpole. Barbara’s passion for Senior Housing saw her spend 20 years on the Sr. Housing Board and with Tony’s help, they worked to improve many of the Sr Housing areas in Town including New Pond Village. They have spearheaded projects to provide better and more favorable housing structures to improve the quality of life for so many of Walpole’s Seniors. Both also had two year stints as RTM members for Walpole.
Barbara and Tony also spend a lot of time advocating for Cancer Awareness and a greater commitment to the families of someone going through treatment to try and lighten their load. Barbara’s affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center has led to a charitable foundation in her name.
So grateful for the blessings in their life here in the Town they never left they quietly continue to leave their mark both with the Walpole Seniors and to the kids of Walpole providing new and much needed field space
Congratulations to this year’s Persons of the Year, Tony and Barbara Lorusso.
Past Recipients
1987 Steve Nelson
1988 Len Ceglaski
1989 Joe Morgan
1990 John Lee
1991 Luella Hennessey Donovan
1992 Jim Pansullo
1993 Tom Coughlin
1994 Don and Jerry Rodman
1995 Martha Sullivan
1996 Jack Ahearn
1997 Frank Civattone
1998 Dan Feeney
1999 Duncan Campbell
2000 Penny Calf
2001 Bill Maloney
2002 Elsie Cross
2003 Alan Rockwood
2004 Phil Wild
2005 Michael Healy
2006 Pat Nugent
2007 Paul Hurley
2008 Dave Thornton
2009 Ed Forsberg
2010 Thomas Kirwan
2011 The Turco Girls (Katie Abate, Mary King, and Tina Seaman)
2012 Gene Lavanchy
2013 Marlene Bristol-Girvan
2014 Joe and Jen Andruzzi
2015 Paula Kavolius
2016 Jack Connor
2017 The Giandomenico Family
2018 Peter A. Betro Jr.
2019 The Walpole Co-operative Bank
2020 Event not held due to COVID
2021 Event not held due to COVID
2022 Jim Brady
2023 Richard McCarthy