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11/23/2019 11:00 PMAs a notable supporter of veterans' causes, including Branford's Take A Vet Fishing, the site surrounding Ted Aub's memorial bench couldn't be better; except for the day when his friends parked a group of classic cars, another love of Aub's life, alongside.
That day was Saturday, Nov. 23, when friends (including several confirmed classic car buffs like Aub), together with a large group of local and state veterans, as well as community leaders and family gathered to help Aub's friend, Bill Raccio, officially dedicate the bench.
Raccio is also the founder of the annual Ted Aub Memorial Car Show in Madison, which he established in July, 2018 to benefit veterans' programs in Aub's honor.
"The man was a friend of many who gave unselfishly to others and in many ways to improve the lives of others," said Raccio, speaking to those who gathered on Nov. 23. "This bench will be for many to enjoy and look out at the harbor and the flag pole; and its very fitting that's it placed near the monument for the men in Branford who served. The cars you see represent Teddy's love of the automobile and the decades of the vehicles. Our veterans are here for Teds devotion to helping veterans and their families."
Hewn from Stony Creek granite, the bench overlooks Branford Harbor from a gently sloping hillside of Parker Memorial Park at Branford Point. The bench also creates a perfect vantage point to take in the park's high-flying American flag and a stone monument honoring Branford's Delta Co. 1's 2006-2007 service in Afghanistan.
Funding for the bench was provided by the Ted Aub Memorial Car Show, Branford Take a Vet Fishing and Branford Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Walter Dymarczyk Memorial Post 12106. In addition, Raccio thanked the "many individuals" as well as the Parker Memorial Park committee, the Town of Branford, Branford Public Works and Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove for supporting the effort to install the memorial bench in honor of Aub.
Cosgrove said he got to know Aub well shortly after first taking office in 2015. He noted that Aub was "instrumental" in having the Town establish Branford's Veterans Advisory Committee.
"He understood importance of continuing to support our veterans and provide the services that they deserve and are there for them. For that, I really want to acknowledge Teddy as being a catalyst," said Cosgrove. "He didn't only do it here in Branford. I always thought Teddy was a Branford guy; [but] he did not just stay in one town, or the town of Madison, where he lived. He brought it along the shoreline and throughout the state of Connecticut. That's the kind of guy he was."
Aub, who passed away in September of 2017, was well known in town for his support and contributions to many military veterans' programs and efforts; as well as his classic car connections built through his Branford business, A&A Auto Parts, which he owned since 1973.
Those who knew Aub well also knew he showed his dedication to the MIA/POW cause by wearing four POW/MIA bracelets – two of which hadn't left his wrist since 1966, and two more on his other wrist since the 1970s. In 2010, Aub was named state coordinator of the National League of POW/MIA families.
As Aub discussed with The Sound during a 2013 interview, while his number came up in the national draft in 1966, a draft overage canceled his call to serve. But as the son of a WWII veteran who had worked as a German translator among POWs; forgotten and imprisoned soldiers always held a prominent place Aub's life.
Among his many contributions, Aub organized CT POW/MIA Recognition Day, served on the State Veterans Task Force, was an associate member of the Housatonic Marine League, an adjutant of the Marine Corps League Department of CT, assisted Vet Hunters Project (helping homeless veterans), volunteered with state VA hospitals, the Connecticut Iwo Jima Memorial and Branford's Take a Vet Fishing Program.
As Aub told The Sound in 2013, "...who wouldn't want to support the people in our country that are part of our Armed Forces? They write a check for their lives to protect our way of life. We need to acknowledge the sacrifice they made."
On Nov. 23, Branford VFW Commander Elliot Hastings recalled Aub as someone who would do whatever he could to help veterans, including closing up his shop "in a minute" if it meant helping out others.
"He was a great guy," said Hastings. "We miss him. We'll never forget him."
Aub also served on the United Way of Branford and the Branford Festival Committee, where he continued the festival's annual classic car show that was instituted by a friend, Gary Dinello; after Dinello passed away in 2011. Raccio, who co-chaired the show for many years with Aub, took on organizing the Branford event after Aub's passing.
"Teddy was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off of his back on a 20-degree day and not even blink," said Raccio, speaking to The Sound on Nov. 23. " I'm doing what he would do for anybody else. That's the kind of guy he was. He was a father, he was a husband, he was a grandfather, he was a friend and he was a brother. He was rich in friends; you could see that here."