Eugene Nocera never imagined he’d carry on in his late father’s footsteps when, as a young boy, he witnessed his Italian community’s absolute fidelity for their patron saint. His dad, known to all affectionately as “Eddie,” was chairman of the St. Sebastian Church feast for 18 years. He died in 1998.

Nocera is now a common councilman in Middletown. “It’s wonderful in so many ways,” Nocera said of taking on the role of general chairman of the feast many years ago. “None of this was ever planned.”Everyone has their personal story tied to the feast, he said.