06/10/2026
You did it again, Putnam! MuralFest is on its way to being the best! MuralBest!
FROM THE WINY RADIO NEWSROOM: PUTNAM MURAL FEST TOPS GOAL WITH LATEST DONATION: Linda Colangelo and Laura Crosetti from the Putnam Mural Fest committee announced the latest donation to Putnam Mural Fest at today’s meeting of The Putnam Business Association at the Town of Putnam Municipal Complex:
The Deary Family - $55,013
NEW TOTAL: $295,809
18 percent OVER goal of $250,000
FROM PUTNAM MURAL FEST:
Iconic Deary Family Makes Lead Sponsor Donation to MuralFest Putnam
Magnum Opus Masterpiece level gift of $55,013 is Highest Donation to Date:
Putnam – Deary. Chances are, you know the name, have patronized one of their businesses, or have from any of the charitable causes for which the family is widely known.
The 11 surviving children of Tom and Therese “Teddy” Deary of Putnam, CT have announced a $55,013.0 leadership donation to the epic MuralFest Putnam public art project coming to Putnam in June 2028, when over 200 “Walldogs” - muralists and sign painters from across the country and around the world - will arrive
to paint Putnam’s rich history in a series of privately funded, storytelling murals.
“As soon as I heard about the project, I knew that it was something that would interest our family, given our long history and passion for the town we have always called ‘home,’” said family spokesman Peter Deary. “So we all gathered, and after hearing an engaging presentation on the project by MuralFest Putnam Executive
Committee members Laura Crosetti and Linda Colangelo, we agreed that we wanted to be a lead sponsor to help bring this project to life. We know it will have a positive impact on economic development, tourism, and community pride, and it will further beautify the town of Putnam.”
In a heart-warming gesture, the family decided on the unique amount of $55,013, adding $13 to symbolize the 13 children of Tom and Teddy Deary – Patty, Tommy (d. 1991), Dennis, Michael, Nancy Elizabeth, Ann, Peter, Mary, John, Allen, Robin, Gene-Michael, and Cathy (d.1990).
Putnam became home to the Dearys in
1946. All 13 children were raised here, attended schools here, and some established businesses here. The family is well-known for their decades-long philanthropy to the Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) Northeast CT Cancer Fund, which they began as a memorial race and walk named for their youngest sibling, Cathy, who passed away from cancer at age 23. They have also supported the Deary Memorial Recognition Garden,
the Thomas C. Deary, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Camp Quinebaug, and The ARC Eastern CT, among many other charitable organizations.
The Deary children learned early on from their parents about the social morality that comes with living in a small town - a willingness to sacrifice short-term personal interests for the greater good. In addition to running the family business, their father served as chairman of Putnam's Board of Finance for many years. He began the family’s long philanthropic history with DKH when he started making annual donations to cover
the cost of newspaper subscriptions for hospital patients. “Grammie” Teddy Deary rivaled her husband’s long hours with the constant tough-but-tender care she provided for their 13 children, while supporting the growing family businesses. They embedded the gift of giving through their extraordinary example.
Deary names are included on many local boards of directors, community events, and charitable causes.
Over the years, family businesses have included Deary Brothers Dairy Co., Deary Brothers Ice, Inc., Deary Brothers Restaurants, Sunnyside Farms Convenience Stores, Deary’s Gymnastics, and Deary’s Gymnastic Supply.
Most people associate the family name with Deary Brothers Mike’s Stand at 12 Intervale Street in Putnam, long considered the official “Stand of Summer” that has been serving up ice cream and summer favorites since 1937. Every Deary child has worked at the stand, which was taken over by Michael Deary in the late 1960s and became a favored destination for Putnam residents and visitors alike. A fourth generation of ownership began recently when Mike welcomed nephews Gene and Evan to the business.
“When it comes to Putnam history, the stand has been a favorite gathering spot for families for nearly 90 years,” said MuralFest Putnam Marketing and Communication Chair Linda Colangelo. “From the establishment of their milk processing plant and door-to-door milk delivery service that began in 1913, to the
opening of the Putnam stand in 1937, the company has provided thousands of jobs, and the Deary’s contributions of time, talent, and funding have benefited thousands of people. We are delighted to include their story and family contribution among the tremendous support we are seeing for MuralFest Putnam.”
Total donations now stand at $295,834, 18% over the original minimum goal of $250K, and a full two years ahead of the project. Laura Crosetti, MuralFest Putnam Sponsorship Chair, explained that the next round of fundraising will focus on in-kind donations to provide for the necessary materials and supplies, and will then launch into the community phase, welcoming contributions from anyone who wishes to support the project.
“We are honored to accept this remarkable leadership gift from the Deary family, and thank them, along with 24 other visionary sponsors who have allowed us to surpass our original fundraising goal,” commented Crosetti. “We were hoping to get most of the costs offset by our business community, and they have come
through in a stunning manner, proving again the difference of living in a small, rural community, where we treat each other like family. How fitting that the Deary family extends their arms once again to embrace a beautiful public art project that will benefit generations to come.”
Peter Deary reflected on the family’s history of support.
“My siblings and their families have independently supported a variety of causes in northeast CT, sometimes publicly and many privately, ” said Deary. “This is the first one that we are making as a family to honor the history of our hometown and realize how our own family history is woven into the fabric of it. We have come together in a way that would make our parents and siblings, Tommy and Cathy, very proud. Like them, these
murals will be timeless.”
To learn more, contact MuralFest Putnam Community Coordinator Elaine Turner [email protected].
To donate, contact Sponsorship Chair Laura Crosetti at [email protected]
Learn more about The Walldogs at https://thewalldogs.org/, and on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/TheOriginalWalldogs/.
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The Walldogs
