The Milford Columbus Committee has announced the 2026 award recipients for Italian-American of the Year, as well other awards and 2026 scholarship recipients. Milford Alderman Ray Vitale was named Italian-American of the Year. Vitale grew up in New Haven, and went on to spend 44 years as an educator in the Milford school system, with 42 years coming as an elementary school teacher and the final two years as a middle school principal.
Over the course of his career, he has worked at Orange Avenue School, Calf Pen Meadow Elementary School, Live Oaks Elementary School, Seabreeze School, Live Oaks Elementary School and Harborside Middle School. After retiring, Vitale spent the next 18 years serving on the Milford Board of Aldermen.
