Meet Lou Paternoster, Board of Education Member

“I’m a jack of all trades and a master of none,” laughed Lou Paternoster and who could describe Paternoster better than the man himself? The long-time North Branford resident has made it a point to apply himself in as many facets around town as possible in order to give back to the town where he raised his three children.

Paternoster gave Patch a glimpse at what a day in his life is like and how he came to be a staple of the town.

North Branford Patch: What is a day in the life of like?

Lou Paternoster: I coach the 6th- and 8th-grade girls' travel basketball teams, I’m a referee for youth baseball, I umpire Little League, I coach girls' soccer and I help coach middle school girls' basketball team. Sports keep me occupied year-round, that’s what keeps the busiest.

I was also recently . I go to those meetings and I’m also on five subcommittees: the Permanent Project Building Committee, the Communication Committee, the Curriculum Committee, the Transportation Committee and the Pension Committee.

North Branford Patch: As packed as that seems, you’re involved in yet more activities?

Paternoster: I’m a justice of the peace, I can marry people. It was a nominated position, someone asked me to do it and I volunteered. I help out with the . I wouldn’t say that I help put it together or anything, but I volunteered to park cars.

I help out with , it has always been part of year to year. This year we crated a new aspect to it and that was the battle of the schools. We raised around $550 and three out of four schools were represented. There’s a plaque the school can win and it will rotate from school to school like the Stanley Cup. Hopefully it will grow.

I helped get the raffle prizes and the referees to donate their time. It’s a four-day event so we had to have referees for that whole time and I refereed as well.

North Branford Patch: What sparked your desire to become a part of the Board of Education?

Paternoster: I basically just wanted to make sure the people in town had a voice and to make sure the people were heard. My kids are older so I felt it was important for someone with no agenda and nothing to gain by it to step up. I didn’t have anything in mind I wanted to change, I was just looking to commit myself to whatever benefits the town. Ultimately, I wanted to give back. I’ve been here for 25 years and I’ve always been very happy with the .

North Branford Patch: How do you keep yourself organized?

Paternoster: I have a Blackberry where I get all my emails, I have two calendars on there. The most important thing is that I don’t delay in getting anything done now. I stay on top of everything. Responding to things on a timely basis keeps you out of trouble. I don’t let anything fall through the cracks. If you send me an email, you get a response maybe in an hour. I want people to treat me like I treat them and if I don’t return your call, then why would I expect you to return mine? That’s how I treat life, I treat people exactly the way I’d like to be treated.