11.26.2025 - A Fall River Icon Recognition - John Ciullo

Hi. So, we're all gathered here today.

Uh we've actually played a little bit of a a joke on someone. Uh we're actually not here to honor Lenny Sylvia today.

We're here to honor John Sulio who's been worked at the Boys and Girls Club for close to 40 years and made a difference in countless lives of kids in Fall River. So, Mr. Mayor or Vic, do you want to say a couple of words about John?

Oh man, I don't have enough time.

Um, John Sulio is amazing individual who I had a pleasure of being here when I was a youth and he changed my life tremendously. I would not be here today without John's influences. Um, love him dearly. That's why I'm here. And again, John Culio is the Boys and Girls Club.

Thank you.

up there, Johnny boy.

Okay. So, I knew John when he was that big.

Forever. Yeah. Last weekend. Okay. Um, John was born in 59 and he was present for the dedication of this building in ' 67. He remembers the late Senator Ted Kenny was one of the speakers at that very happy occasion. Soon after he joined the club, he paid his dollar or his $2 a year dues. And 52 years ago, it started. He attended Diamond where he excelled in graphic arts and track and

field. He found time beginning his sophomore year to work part-time in this very club, checking coats, jackets, and giving out games and sports equipment to the kids.

John then spent two years working in the pool. After graduating from high school at age 16, he typically worked 35 hours a week right here at the club with his mentor and director, Al Carrera, who later hired him full-time on his 18th birthday.

John positively impacted the lives of thousands of youngsters.

One example would be John Pers persuaded several of the Beverly Street neighbors, including Vic Pereira, to forfeit playing outdoor street hockey in favor of joining the club and learning the game of basketball.

Vic became a notable ball player across the city and for Dery and a very, very enthusiastic educator and made the life better for countless kids. Also, for John's tremendous efforts to improve the lives of our kids, we honor him with the Fall River Icon Award, courtesy of Louis Loo and his bat company.

Congratulations, John. This bat's for you. A Fall River icon, John Sulio, for 52 years of service to the Boys and Girls Club. Congratulations, Johnny.

Oh, Mr. Mayor, thank you very much.

Very nice.

But now you got to say a few words. You want me to hold that back there for you?

Yeah. Okay.

All right.

Uh, I would like to thank everyone and I had no idea that this was going to happen. But I would like to thank each and everyone of the people here today.

And [clears throat] also I would like to thank all the members of the club that I had the pleasure of all my years being here of making a difference in their lives. And it it just overwhelms me to think that I could have such a positive impact, but I did.

And I love the kids as well as the staff. Thank you very much.

We do have a couple of special guests with us. I want um Mike, our new city council, come up. say a few words.

Go right ahead.

I just uh know John through my parish, Holy Name Church. He's always been a wonderful man, always helping out in the community, and I just want to be here for him today and thank him for his service. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

And uh also with us is State Representative Carol Fiola and Senator Mike Rogers. They may want to come up and say a few words. That'd be great.

John, you are an icon.

So, I have the pleasure of not only being uh John's state representative, but being his friend and uh to be here with his family and to know that the impact you have made, John is incredible.

Every child that you run into wherever you go, hi John. Hi, John. They know you. Um, your family is always there for you and you are always there for your family. Y and this club has been your home.

This club has uh been a such a important part of your life.

Yeah.

And um I think it's only fitting that the community and the club say thank you. And so we have a citation for you.

And basically it says all the stuff that citations say. Uh but most important it says thank you John. Congratulations on being an icon in the city of Fall River.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

John, you have been my friend much longer than the 30 years that I've had the honor of serving as as a legislator.

And uh through my tenure, I spent so much time here at the club. Every time I came in, see your smiling face. And not only have you given so much to the club, but you have given so much to this community, so much to the youth, so many so much to the youth who are now adults who are giving back this community. I'm proud. My grandson became a became a

club kid last night. So, uh, you know, so I am so proud of that. Um, and it's from it's just you just gave so much because of all of your efforts. This club is just so important to the city of Far. Thank you, John. You're a good man.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm gonna give him the bat now. I feel like keeping it. But again, Louis Leoo and Axis Bat Company did a great thing having it engraved for John so he can keep it as a momento for the next 40 or 50 years as long as he lives like the rest of us. That's right. Exactly.

Again, congratulations, John. Thank you, everybody.

And I would again just like to say thank you to all the staff and all the people who has made this place possible and all the children that we serve.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Thank you.

Um, just on behalf of the Sulio family, I'm the baby of the bunch and I would like to say thank you to everyone who is here who has made this award special for John. Um, thank you to Lulu. Thank you to his dear friend, Phil Sylvia, who is supportive and always good to John. And I will say that today is recognition of John's commitment to the youth of Fall River. And we as his family would also

like to recognize the community, the Boys and Girls Club, the city that has wrapped their arms around John and through stood by him through his journey. and we are very proud of you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

May we ask you some questions?

Oh, yes, certainly.

Repiola referred to what it's like when you run into other children that you had maybe at the grocery store. What kind of an exchange do you have now that those kids are adults?

It is it is truly unbelievable because when you know when you see them in here it's you know hey let's do this let's play this let's do that but then now that they're adults they're kids and whenever they see me they do not think twice about hey I got to say hi Hi to John. And I go over, I say hi to John, I say say hi to them. And then I say hello

to their kids and sometime their grandchildren.

Working with children like that is generally not a job that makes you wealthy, but it's rewarding in other ways.

the what I do not get in financial money I make up tenfold in my heart my the the good feeling that I get that I know I made a difference and I also notice some of the children that you know don't have many friends or whatever I go over to them. I introduce myself to them. And then uh I say, "Hey, you want to play a little pingpong and I let them win?" And I'm like, "What

And that's all I aim to do. Make connections.

And Mr. Culio, what lessons do you hope they bring forward from when they were so young and now, as you said, they may even be grandparents.

I want them to be the example that I set for them to spread the same love, laughter, and joy that they bring to my life and to to share it with other members.

And Mr. Sulio, it's no secret that we have some poverty here in the city. Some of these kids don't have father figures or uncles or older brothers. Did you find yourself playing that role occasionally?

Yes. Yes. The def uh that was a it's a very humbling and rewarding feeling that I get. It's it's it's humbling knowing that I made a difference.

I had a little say. I'm not saying I did everything, but I helped as many as I could.

Thank Thank you.

Thank you very much.