Leo Cirino Passes Away at 91
It is with sadness that we announce that the founder of the EV Club, Leo Cirino, a resident of Westport, has passed away at age 91.
A Vision for Clean Transportation
Leo was an electrical engineer, having obtained his degree from Columbia College. He had an amazing career working at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal, a precursor of NASA, and for 33 years at United Technologies. His “retirement gig” was to become a public school teacher.
The EV Club of CT began life as the Westport Electric Car Club. Leo founded it in 2009 with a small group of people, many of whom were tinkerers. Back in those days there weren’t many EVs one could buy. People would refer to conventional hybrids as EVs. But Leo had a vision for where the industry could go and the importance of the role it plays in decarbonization.
When the Town of Westport obtained a grant to install a rooftop solar array on the depot building at the Saugatuck Metro North Station, Leo consulted on the project. Along with the solar panels, 4 EV chargers were installed. These were the first solar-powered public EV chargers in the state. It was 2012.
Leo had the idea to stage an EV road rally in 2013, where 40 plus EVs (it seemed like a lot at the time) traveled the back roads in Fairfield County, following a course communicated in riddles. Each driver had to have a navigator and it was suggested that it not be one’s spouse.
Awards
A number of the awards won by the club happened under Leo’s leadership. The photo at the top of the post is Leo accepting the Fairfield County Green Coast Award.
Over the years, the footprint of the club has expanded statewide and the mission has grown along with the adoption of EVs.
For those who knew Leo, we remember his warm smile, energy and intelligence. A more detailed obituary, and where services will be held, can be found here.
Below, a few pix from memory lane. The first two from the first road rally: Leo and Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff starting the rally, rally marketing team of Leo, Robin Tauck, Barry Kresch, Remy Chevalier. Next two are the club in the Westport Memorial Day Parade and Leo receiving the WeGreenWestport Award from First Selectman Jim Marpe. Finally, past president Bruce Becker presenting Leo with a plaque when he stepped down as club president.
