The Youth Center staff had the pleasure of meeting Diane Strauss and Olga DiVittorio last month! Diane and Olga shared stories of John DiVittorio and the armory, while getting a tour of the renovated facility. We would also like to thank Diane and Olga for this very kind email and the amazing photos you shared (click here to see):
Dear Ms. Ward,
Words are not adequate to express our deep thanks for your kindness to us on Friday September second. My mother and I appeared on your doorstep completely unannounced and you invited us in to the Youth Center and gave us a tour that couldn’t be beat. You graciously took over an hour out of your busy day to show us all the nooks and crannies of a building that meant so much to us throughout the years.
I moved from Milford to upstate New York in 1979 and my parents moved from Milford to Cape Cod in 1986. We hold much love for the people and places of our hometown so when we visit, it is a very emotional journey. We can’t go back to our old house but we can still go back to places that mean so much to us like Sacred Heart Church, family-owned Gene’s Variety, and now to the Milford Youth Center. My father John spent 39+ years working on this extraordinary building. It was like another home to us. To see his office, his boiler room, the drill shed, the windows where he hung out the state and US flags, the walls and floors he lovingly maintained was such a thrill for us.
The Milford Youth Center is truly a wonder. Programs, facilities, staff – YOU and your colleagues, field trips, creative use of space, well run, well maintained, safe, nurturing, WOW! I hope the town is fully aware of this great gift you give to the young people of Milford. The building’s renovation was so impressive. Your meticulous attention to detail and your requests to preserve historic elements of design really shined through.
Thank you for the tour and thank you for continuing to look after this great building. We hope to stop in to visit again next year when we come back to town.
Sincerely,
Diane (DiVittorio) Strauss
Olga DiVittorio
Diane (DiVittorio) Strauss
Olga DiVittorio