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| Mayor David Cassetti, right, with Ron Silverberg, left |
ANSONIA- Mayor Dave Cassetti’s longtime desire to publicly recognize Ansonia boxing legend Pinky Silverberg came to fruition on Thursday morning, June 1st, with the unveiling of a commemorative sign called Champion’s Corner on the site of Pinky’s former residence.
The sign is located at the corner of Main Street and Father Salemi Drive in Ansonia.
A National Boxing Association Flyweight champion in 1927, he registered his first significan...t win at the age of 23, in a 10 round decision fight held at the Ansonia Opera House on Main Street in 1925.
Silverberg had moved with several family members to Ansonia in 1920 from Bronx, NY seeking employment at the many factories throughout the Naugatuck Valley, and they settled at 517 Main Street for most of his adult life.
During the ceremony attended by several of Silverberg’s family including his son Ron, granddaughter, friends and city officials, Mayor Cassetti said, “Today marks a heartfelt desire of my own initiative to recognize a perhaps previously forgotten hometown sports hero.”
Silverberg lived in Ansonia until his passing in 1964. “Pinky’s legacy and history is a story I have followed since a young boy,” said Cassetti. “And it inspired me to pursue boxing and eventually becoming Middleweight Boxing Champion of Connecticut in both 1982 and 1983.”
Last fall, Mayor Cassetti launched his original Pinky Silverberg Valley Young Gloves program at the Ansonia Armory and will continue the program again this coming fall.
(This is a press release from Ansonia City Hall)
During the ceremony attended by several of Silverberg’s family including his son Ron, granddaughter, friends and city officials, Mayor Cassetti said, “Today marks a heartfelt desire of my own initiative to recognize a perhaps previously forgotten hometown sports hero.”
Silverberg lived in Ansonia until his passing in 1964. “Pinky’s legacy and history is a story I have followed since a young boy,” said Cassetti. “And it inspired me to pursue boxing and eventually becoming Middleweight Boxing Champion of Connecticut in both 1982 and 1983.”
Last fall, Mayor Cassetti launched his original Pinky Silverberg Valley Young Gloves program at the Ansonia Armory and will continue the program again this coming fall.
(This is a press release from Ansonia City Hall)
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