Greenwich Crossing Guard Honored as Traffic Safety Hero

Greenwich resident Tom Reale, who recently retired after 40 years as a school crossing guard in Greenwich, recently was recognized as a Traffic Safety Hero by AAA Northeast.

The 97-year-old Reale received the Hero award at AAA’s 6th Annual Community Traffic Safety Awards lunch at Testo’s in Bridgeport. AAA commended Reale for completing 40 years of continuous service as the town’s most senior School Crossing Guard.

Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey, who nominated Reale, wrote that “Reale’s dedication, no matter the weather, has ensured the safety of several generations of Greenwich students who arrived and left school.”

In April, Reale was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Greenwich Silver Shield Association, in recognition for his service.

At the event, AAA Northeast also honored the Greenwich Police Department with a Gold Award for the department’s outstanding traffic safety programs that includes mature driver training classes; a Citizens’ Police Academy and a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, (STEP) that addresses traffic-related problems in town with the goal of reducing collisions by 4%, among other initiatives.

Contributed photo: AAA Public Affairs Manager Fran Mayko, third from right, presented the Traffic Safety Hero Award to Tom Reale, center. From left is Sgt. John Slusarz, who holds the department’s Gold Award; Officer Ron Carosella, who presents AAA’s mature driving improvement program to area residents; Capt. Pam Gustovich; and Lt. John Brown.