John Leary, a Boy Scout leader for decades and volunteer with town, church and school groups, is UNICO’s Gold Medal of Honor recipient for this year Southington UNICO, an Italian-American club, honors someone each year whose actions reflect the group’s motto of “service above self.”

Leary, who’s not a member of UNICO, although half-Italian, said the award came as a complete surprise. Mark Berardi, a UNICO member and Leary’s former neighbor, told him about the honor.