I’m a champion of people getting back out in the world and connecting again ‘in person’ especially after what we’ve all been through with not seeing some people for a long time as a result of the pandemic. I feel it matters. That’s how relationships get made, right? Life is easier with people you trust. The more you know about somebody authentically, the more apt you are to trust them. Connecting virtually is fine, but I’m on a personal mission to reconnect with people I like ‘in person’.
I have the pleasure of broadcasting my live radio show from the studios of WGCH radio in Greenwich Ct., a town known worldwide for its beauty, location, amenities and well-run government. Founded in 1640, it’s one of the oldest towns in the United States, home to many multigenerational families and has been a worldwide destination for over a century. It’s also known as the ‘Hedge Fund Capital of the World’.
I’ve known my radio engineer Bob for decades and with his help I produce high level content that gets heard around town, around the country through the digital livestream, and around the world through podcasting.
During the pandemic, I did my radio show remotely. I got used to broadcasting from my house sometimes in my pajamas and got a little lazy about returning to the studio. But there’s nothing like ‘live’ in-studio energy.
Fred Camillo, who’s the First Selectman of Greenwich (their version of a mayor) also has a show on this radio station. I’d always enjoy running into him at the station except when he’d bring his big beautiful dog who would scare the hell out of me. I’m scared of big dogs, so our conversations would always get cut short by me hiding behind a desk.
I didn’t run into Fred Camillo for a long while because of the pandemic. Sweet guy, but since I don’t talk politics on my show I didn’t know much about him. I decided since I’m back in this interesting town, I’d invite Fred ‘the guy’ to come sit in and do a live show with me without his big dog and get to know him. (Big dog lovers please forgive me). Many who do know Fred from his growing up in the area, adore him and are very proud of him. So here’s what I learned about Fred the very down to earth guy who’s in charge of this very upscale town.
Did Fred want to grow up to be the First Selectman (mayor)?
Nope, found out he wanted to play center field for the Yankees. Sadly, that didn’t work out. He also wanted to be Joe Frazier but he was only a lightweight so that didn’t work out either.
However, Fred does work out a lot and he’s in great shape. Every morning he’s out early walking his two dogs and then walks to the gym.
Instead of a baseball uniform or boxing shorts, Fred’s daily uniform is now a suit. How many suits does the First Selectman of Greenwich own? Four. Mostly he wears the dark blue ones (Yankee blue), but he also has a light gray and a dark gray.
I wondered, does Fred ever do like I do, change clothes like Superman did in a phone booth to get from one occasion to the next dressed appropriately? “Rarely but it’s happened” he said.
Does Fred wear cologne? Nope. How about jewelry? Only watches he said, and a Fitbit to count his steps. (Roughly 20,000 steps a day!) BTW, he wears them both on the same wrist and people always ask him why he wears two watches.
As a result of his job as First Selectman of Greenwich, CT, some weeks Fred’s out every single night. But he admits he’s really a homebody and loves to hang home and watch sports.
Who’s Fred’s team this year?
“I’m still a Yankee fan said Fred, but I even root for the Mets. The Cohens are great people. They’re living in Greenwich.” Oh cool let’s get Steve Cohen to come by the studio.
What about hockey?
“I grew up a Ranger fan, but the owners of the Islanders are here in Greenwich, and they are terrific people. Jon Ledecky actually worked here at WGCH in the 70s. He brags about working here.” Oh cool let’s get Jon Ledecky to come do a show.,
Do you like tennis? “I don’t play tennis, but I will watch it once in a while. I grew up watching Jimmy Connors and Chris Everett. But I will watch a good match”.
What about Pickleball? Good news for pickleball fans, Fred said, “We’re going to get hopefully four new courts.”
I asked Fred if he was going to the electric chair, what his last meal would be? Fred’s last meal is going to be a big one. Lots of pasta, probably a couple slices of pizza, Italian cheesecake, gorgonzola salad and a bottle of wine. (Good to know Fred and I could have a lot of fun eating together)
Fred Camillo’s father was a marine drill sergeant. The rules in his house growing up included that you had to work, so Fred worked every day when he was a kid. For a couple weeks back when he was 8 or 9, he even had a little shoeshine box and shined shoes outside a local store. Fred said his drill sergeant father was funny funny guy with a great voice. A crooner, just like Frank Sinatra and for fun Fred and his siblings used to tape him. “But he had a temper too, Fred said, “so you had to be careful.” Adding, “But it was funny. It was in an era, you know, that things were different. And I kinda miss those days.”
Does Fred remember people’s birthdays? Yes. Does he remember people’s phone numbers? Yes. He knows at least 25 or 30 peoples phone numbers by heart. Does Fred still have dead people in his phone like I do? Yup, He said, “I think it’s about holding on to a memory and it’s something that’s personal and to erase it, would mean kind of, it’s that finality. It’s silly, but it’s just something that we do.”
I asked Fred another one of my signature questions? “What’s your genius? That thing that comes naturally to you that you take for granted.?
“Nothing, that’s gonna make me any money”, said Fred laughing. “I can tell you the starting line up with the 1978 Yankees. I can tell you who the third string catcher was on the 1961 world champion Yankees. As my father used to say back when soda was cheap, that and 50 cents will get you a soda. I can easily recall Baseball trivia mostly but also a lot of historical stuff. I taught history in high school a long time ago, so I remember dates and numbers.”
Has Fred been on every single block in Greenwich, CT? Probably. Greenwich is the second biggest landmass in the state of Connecticut and yes Fred’s been on pretty much every street around the 67 square miles, 48 of which are land.
What hasn’t Fred gotten around to doing yet that’s still on his bucket list? He hasn’t been to Italy.
Fred’s currently involved with ‘Paws for A Cause’, a leukemia fundraiser in honor of his sister Donna Marie who died from leukemia at the age of 11. Sadly, Fred’s mother also passed away just six months after his sister at the age of 34. “Unfortunately”, said Fred, “back in 1968 medicine and science weren’t where they are today.”
How many people ask Fred for favors in the course of the day as Greenwich CT First Selectman? A lot. “When you say favor you mean help, aid, attention to their cause, whatever. And you do what you can do, if it’s legal and you’re not doing anything that’s, you know, against the law or out of order”.
During Fred’s day is he more likely to be texting, emailing, or calling somebody? “I’d rather talk to somebody.”
I threw out another ‘signature’ Debbie Nigro question’ that I like to ask. “How Does Your Head Work Inside? I’m aware that everybody has something going on in their head all day long that nobody else knows about.
“Well, a lot of people will tell you there’s nothing going on”, said Fred. “I guess, music. I’ll walk out of the gym in the morning, and what was playing usually what I hear in the morning, it stays in my head.“
Finally, I wondered does Fred worry about a lot of things? “Oh, yeah, said Fred, “I’m a big worrier”.
So how does Fred relax?
“Red wine, but I don’t have it every night and watching sports. I’m not a big TV person, but I just started watching the old Sopranos. I wanted to go through the whole thing. So, I’m almost on season five now and that’s kind of relaxing. It makes me laugh.
Enjoy this full show podcast of my live ‘in person’ conversation on The Debbie Nigro Show with Fred Camillo the down to earth guy, who also happens to be The First Selectman of Greenwich Ct. It’s always fun to share some laughs and get to know someone authentically.
