By JOE LOTEMPLIO
PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County Clerk John Zurlo, one of the North Country’s most popular figures, was named Irishman of the Year Wednesday.
Zurlo, 71, was given the honor by longtime Master of Ceremonies Kevin J. Killeen before 500 would-be Irish souls at the annual Plattsburgh-North Country St. Patrick’s Day breakfast.
“I really had no inkling,” a stunned Zurlo told the crowd gathered at Plattsburgh State’s Angell College Center.
“I will do my best to make you proud the rest of my career.”
A lifelong resident of Champlain in the Northern Tier, Zurlo spent 35 years teaching business education at Northeastern Clinton Central School after graduating from his beloved St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vt.
It was his high-school business teacher, Ed Dodds, who taught Zurlo how to give back.
“He was such a good teacher, and he was always helping people, and I wanted to be just like him. He was my inspiration.”
Zurlo’s father was also very involved in the community, which rubbed off on him.
“When you live in a small community you get to know everyone, and you have to get involved,” Zurlo said.
During his teaching career, Zurlo spent 22 years as tax collector for the Town of Champlain.
After retiring from teaching, he turned full time to politics, a natural fit for the gregarious Italian-American.
He served as the county legislator from Area 1 for six years, beginning in 1989, before he was elected county clerk in 1995.
He is now in his fourth term as clerk, winning election easily each time he’s run, which is a testament to his county-wide popularity.
“John can go to any corner of the county and spend hours talking with people he knows,” former WCAX-TV reporter and the 2001 Irishman of the Year Jack LaDuke said.
“I’ve never seen a guy like him.”
Zurlo, who loves to give 30-to-60-second handshakes accompanied by a firm shoulder grip, said he just likes people.
“I have a keen curiosity about people, and I never want to walk away from a conversation.
“I always have time for people, and I guess I just have something in my body that says I have to talk to people.”
Still as active as he was as a younger man, Zurlo said that living in the North Country all his life has been a blessing.
“The quality of life in this community is just amazing. We’ve been in so many situations where people have come together to help each other out. It really has been wonderful,” he said.
“If I’m just a little part of that success, then I’m proud.”
The breakfast crowd was treated to the usual jocularity from Killeen, who split sides with some Irish-laced jokes, soem of which were laced with spice.
The crowd was also treated to the lovely Irish ballad “Danny Boy” by local singer Courtland Wood, who is a regular on the entertainment list at the breakfast. James Conley, another regular performer, played the piano for Wood.
The Cumberland Bay Chapter of Barbershop Harmony also performed some lively tunes.
Mark L. Barie, the 2004 winner, once again matched Killeen’s stories with some tales of his own.
But this year’s show missed, for the first time in its history, the music of 1965 Irishman winner Angelo LaMariana.
The diminutive violinist died last year at the age of 94.
It seemed only fitting that Zurlo, a fellow Italian, should win the prestigious award in the wake of LaMariana’s passing.
“The Irish and Italians, we’re both good people,” Zurlo said. “They both emigrated to this country about the same time, and both had many hardships, but they persevered and helped make this country great.”
E-mail Joe LoTemplio at:
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
Here’s a look at the Irishmen of the Year since the inception of the award in 1959:
1959: Erwin “Joe” Bornstein
1960: Dr. George W. Angell
1961: Gen. Perry M. Hoisington
1962: Horace F. Davies
1963: Evalon A. Merritt
1964: George M. Larios
1965: Dr. Angelo LaMariana
1966: The Rev. Michael Reilly
1967: Maj. Gen. Warren Johnson
1968: Mayor Roland St. Pierre
1969: Mose “Scottie” Aspinall
1970: Marie L. Beemer
1971: James A. FitzPatrick
1972: Edward W. Smith
1973: I. Edward Klineberg
1974: Euclid M. Gordon
1975: Dr. Nicholas F. Troisi
1976: William J. McBride
1977: Jann M. Shambo
1978: Dr. A.B. DeGrandpre
1979: E. Glenn Giltz
1980: Curtis E. Shipman
1981: Dr. Alfred Light
1982: Rita Banks
1983: Clyde A. Lewis
1984: Mary Ellen Rogers
1985: Monsignor Morris Dwyer
1986: Christopher “Kit” Booth
1987: John and Helen Ianelli
1988: Michael Finnegan
1989: Elizabeth “Petie” Wheeler
1990: Keith Defayette
1991: Joe McGrath
1992: Paul Green
1993: Charles Lewis
1994: Michael Mannix
1995: Claire Goineau
1996: Gordon Little
1997: Wayne Byrne
1998: Stanley Ransom
1999: William Morgan
2000: Sen. Ronald B. Stafford
2001: Jack LaDuke
2002: Jeannie Roberts
2003: Shirley O’Connell
2004: Mark Barie
2005: Art Spiegel
2006: Dr. Nancy Church
2007: John Masella
2008: Gordon Hazel
2009: Herbert Carpenter
2010: John Zurlo
