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For Louis Pacelli, Music and Politics Work in Harmony

For Louis Pacelli, civic life is tied to music. It started with local guitar lessons at 14 and grew into a performing life that his informed his career in politics and in charity.

His parents, Al and Mary Anne Pacelli, set the example for him when he was young. Both were active with Our Lady of Pompeii, in the Ladies Guild and the Men’s Club, respectively. His mother was president of the catechism school.

“They were always a fixture of town,” Louis says. “It runs in our family.”

Like his son, Al Pacelli was involved in local politics. During the 1980s, he served as a purchasing agent for then-mayor Bob Norman and later served as chairman of the Republican party.

“I thank God every day I had great parents like that,” Louis says.

Louis has served the town of East Haven in a number of ways. He’s worked in the parks department, serving as its Recreation & Athletic Complex Commission chairman for six years. He’s also served on the Board of Education and the Cable Advisory Commission.

“I like to make people happy and do things that are positive,” Louis says.

Louis was born in East Haven. He still lives here with his wife, Anne. He was elected to the Town Council in 2017 to continue his service in yet another role.

Though Louis ended up following his parents into civic life, it didn’t start out this way.

After graduating from the East Haven school district, Louis went to South Central Community College for business, but music always made more sense.

In 1987, Louis formed his band, One Way Ticket, with other musicians from around the state. They played three or four shows a week, working in clubs and on town greens. Even when he started working for the town, music was his business at night and on weekends.

“I went to school so I’d have something to fall back on,” he says. “But the music just took hold.”

The band has stayed together through multiple incarnations and it still plays today.

“I released two original CDs, written my own songs. Actually had songs published,” he says. “My thing is when people are smiling, you’re doing something right.”

Louis’s musical background, and his experience as an entertainer, later manifested itself as Talk and Entertainment, an East Haven television show for which he helped bring national acts to local TV.

During his time with the program, Louis booked acts like Steve Holley, drummer for Paul McCartney and Wings, and the Five Satins.

His experience as a musician and entertainer is what makes Louis a “singing-type politician.” He sees his musical career and his drive in politics as part of the same set of motivations.

“I like to help people and when you play music, that’s a way of helping people,” he says—politics is another way for him to accomplish that goal.

From 1997 to 2005 he even helped to develop the East Haven concert series, locating and booking musical acts to perform on the green in the summer.

Louis started out in the town at the Public Works and Parks departments at 25. With them, he did everything from paving to driving the senior bus. His favorite was helping with the Parks Department’s landscaping efforts.

“It’s another way of creating.” Louis says.

Louis spent a total of 12 years with the Parks Department. To address East Haven’s lack of a dog park, Louis worked to add pet waste bag dispensers in commonly used areas.

Louis and his wife live with four rescue animals. It’s another area of charity in which Louis is interested.

“I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the grace of God,” he says.

Louis combines his interest in landscaping with his charitable inclinations through faith-based work. Together with other members of his church, Louis recently helped clean up the damaged property of a Milford veteran.

Though Louis has passed through many roles in life, music remains a part of his life. Recently, it has led him to offer guitar lessons at the East Haven Recreation Center and in New Haven. He also teaches a spin class at InShape Fitness, where he programs the music for each class.

It was his music performance and his dedication to his own fitness that led him to become a certified instructor, learning that his skills would translate well.

“If you can make people smile for even a second it’s the best feeling in the world,” he says.