Former lawmaker, longtime public servant dies at 53
NAUGATUCK — Former state legislator and longtime public servant Kevin DelGobbo died Monday. He was 53 years old.
DelGobbo’s family said Tuesday the cause of his death is unknown and they are waiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause.
Stephanie Savoy, chair of the Naugatuck Police Commission and close friend to DelGobbo and his family, said he taught her everything she knows about serving the community.
“He is the most selfless person one could meet,” Savoy said. “He would do anything for this community and its people.”
DelGobbo, a Republican, served 12 years as a state representative from Naugatuck, including 10 years as ranking member of the energy committee.
The Naugatuck Republican Town Committee released a statement Tuesday honoring DelGobbo’s life.
“His accomplishments and contributions to the community of Naugatuck and the state of Connecticut are countless, and we will always carry his memory in our hearts and he will still be mentoring us in giving back from above,” the statement read.
After serving as a state representative, DelGobbo went on to work at PURA for three years that started as a commissioner of PURA’s predecessor, the Department of Public Utility Control, an independent body.
In his first year, DelGobbo became chairman of the DPUC and then remained through its transition into an agency under control of the new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
DelGobbo then went on to serve as chief adviser to Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary for two years.
Upon receiving news of DelGobbo’s death, O’Leary said Tuesday that “the tragic loss of Kevin is devastating to all of us who knew him and worked with him.”
“He was one of the most intelligent, kind and dedicated individuals I’ve ever worked with,” O’Leary said. “His personality lit up any room and we will miss him terrible, we have all lost a very dear friend.”
After leaving his post at the mayor’s office in 2015, DelGobbo became the director of revenue requirements for Eversource Energy in its Berlin office.
DelGobbo is survived by his father Barry, sister Christina, brother-in-law Greg, niece Maggie and nephew J.T. He is predeceased by his mother Nancy Stiber and brother Jeffrey DelGobbo
“Kevin’s family lost a loving son, brother and uncle,” said Naugatuck Burgess Dorothy Hoff, another close family friend of the DelGobbos. “Our family friend for 27 years was so loved by Naugatuck families that he was thought by many to be their son, brother and uncle.”
