Pioneering the Growth of Valenti Family of Dealerships

Say the name Valenti and the immediate thought is car, say the word car and the name that comes to mind is Valenti. How did that region wide response come to be? And what is the secret to the success of the Valenti Car Dealerships? Same answer to both questions – Bob Valenti!

When asked to account for the overwhelming success of his Auto Dealerships, 81-years young Bob Valenti without hesitation answers, “Being in the right place at the right time and making the right decisions.” Modest to a fault, that success is more based on Bob’s incredible work ethic, honesty, compassion, and commitment to the customer.

The year is 1946, WW II has just ended, assembly lines that turned out the tanks, artillery, and arms that supplied our Troops are now turning out the first cars in five years, In Wallingford, Connecticut, at a Dodge-Plymouth Dealership owned by his Dad, Fred Valenti, 14-years young Bob Valenti worked at the dealership in the morning and attended high school in the afternoon. “I can never be too thankful for how I was raised.” Bob reflected, “Dad instilled that nothing came to you – you had to labor to earn it.”

That year the Valenti Dealership sold 28 cars, today the Valenti dealerships sell 400 cars per month. Obviously, the instilling of a strong work ethic proved its worth.

Working side-by-side with his brother Fred Jr., Bob took on more and more responsibility from his Dad. Brother Fred continued his schooling in business, while Bob mastered the intricacies of engine and body repair at Wilcox Technical School, and together they grew the Family Business. When Dad’s health declined, a 23-year old Bob and his brother took over running the dealership.

In 1955, the Valenti family was awarded a Chevrolet dealership. Sales took off, but due to far more than just a booming 50’s economy. “Selling a new car to a person is only the first step in establishing a lasting relationship with a buyer. What has to follow is standing behind the product, providing the best of servicing, and doing all at as fair and reasonable a price as possible. Do that and you have a relationship that continues, the client comes back and sends friends and family. After decades in the business, we have reached a point where returning, not new, clients are the greater majority of our buyers,” Bob states with obvious and justified pride.

In 1972, Bob was traveling to a national dealership owners meeting and struck up a conversation with Bud Santin of Mystic while in-flight. Bud told Bob that his brother, Joe Santin might be interested in selling his Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealership located along the upriver side of the Drawbridge.

Wasting no time, Bob journeyed to Mystic, immediately found a fellow soul in Joe, and fell in love with the area. In relating the story, Bob smiled broadly in remembrance, “It was a kinder, gentler time. The contract that completed the sale was on a single sheet of 8 x 11 paper!” And thus, the Valenti name came to Mystic.

Two years of commuting from Wallingford six-days-a- week with four growing children proved arduous and time consuming. In 1975, Bob and family set forth from Wallingford and established roots in Stonington. Love of that community and service to it continues to this day.

One of the first to truly grasp the historic value of the Seaport, Drawbridge, and environs, Bob knew that the blossoming of that potential would be stymied by the location of his dealership. That combined with his having acquired dealership rights to market the Chevrolet and Ford products sent him looking for a location to combine all with state-of-the-art showroom and service facilities. Perhaps, this is where Bob’s reference to “right time, right place, and right decision” emanates from.

A ten acre parcel of land- locked property behind the Stonington Historical Society’s Home on Route 27 along Route 95 was for sale. Chemical Bank of New York had foreclosed on adjacent property that bordered on Jerry Brown Road in Mystic, and Bob went out on a limb and purchased both. The result is the unique and beautifully situated multi-maker auto dealership that exists today. Soon to be added to that were the highly successful Valenti Toyota and Subaru dealerships in Westerly RI, and the adding of the legendary Jeep in Mystic, in addition to Chrysler Dodge and Volkswagen.

An amazing career, and an astonishing history that links to a Nash dealership owned by his father in the 1930’s. And just as amazing is what Bob Valenti gives back to his community when not in the showroom. The National Historic Treasure Palmer House in Stonington would have gone to rack and ruin had not Bob purchased and restored it prior to it being taken by the Stonington Historical Society. Stonington enjoys fiscal security today due to Bob’s tenure as member and Chairman of the Stonington Board of Finance. His charity work is legendary.

Bob is now retired. Son Rob has taken on the responsibilities learned via his Dad. Daughters Beth, Cheryl, Jean and spouses Bill Goodwin, Tom Quirk and Bruce Morrow, hold key management positions – still a Family Business! Bob and wife, June’s extended family boasts 17 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren.

When asked what he’s driving? Bob answers, “My current favorite ride is my Corvette convertible, my best ride has been life.”

A great story, a great man – Made in America.

September 30th marked the 60th anniversary of the commissioning of USS Nautilus. The celebration was held at the pier next to the submarine at the Submarine Force Museum and Library in Groton, Connecticut. Attendees included several well-known faces and politicians including: Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Joe Courtney, Governor Dannel Malloy, and Electric Boat Vice President of Engineering and Design Programs, Will Lennon. The U.S. Navy’s Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, Admiral John M. Richardson was also joined by several plank owners of the Nautilus and former and retired Naval commanders of the historic submarine.
The Nautilus (SSN 571) was considered the “First and Finest” of its kind. It was a part of a project started by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (also known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy”) and his team of engineers in an effort to move naval operations from diesel-driven engines to the nuclear powered engines that submarines use today.
Electric Boat designed and built the Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut and on January 17, 1955, she was finally “Underway on Nuclear Power” according to Cmdr. Eugene P. Wilkinson, the boat’s first skipper.
“Electric Boat couldn’t be prouder of its roll in producing the Nautilus”, said Will Lennon, VP of Electric Boat’s Engineering and Design Program, “it set the standard for high performance technology in the world.”
Blumenthal also commented, ”Great boats that our nation depends on emerge here in Groton”
“Connecticut is the only state that contributes directly to build out a naval base. This base provides 3.4 billion in economic activity and over 15,000 jobs to this area”, said Governor Dannel Malloy stressing the impact the Nautilus has made on the economic growth of the area.
The Nautilus had a 25 year service life and since her commissioning 60 years ago, 18 classes of submarines have been designed and 200 have been built. It paved the way for the newest Virginia class submarines and the upcoming Ohio class replacement submarines.
After the ceremony, a small reception was held inside the museum. Families and loved ones of Nautilus crews past and present shared their fondest memories with each other. Some of the invitees came from across the country just to say hello and wish the Nautilus a happy anniversary.
“We came from Colorado”, said William O’Halloran as he stood in front of the ship he served on in the 1950’s, “Those were some crazy days!”
Across the room, Captain David S. Boyd (ret) shook hands with CDR Jefferey C. Metzel, Jr., the fourth skipper of the Nautilus. Metzel was also joined by his family, including his nephew, Blues Traveler lead singer, John Popper.
“I am so proud of my uncle. He’s always been my hero”, said Popper.
Judging by the mood of the day, the Nautilus was clearly home to several heroes and pioneers of the nuclear navy. She changed the way people thought about the submarine community and showed them that nuclear propulsion could and would be done.

story & photos
by Christopher Annino

The sound of groggy buccaneers walking an uneven stride haunted the streets of Downtown Mystic October 4th and 5th. It was estimated that over 6,000 people attended the annual Mystic Pirate Invasion presented by the Downtown Mystic merchants. Saturday’s festivities were aimed towards adults. Each individual who participated in the events on Saturday took part in a pirate themed scavenger hunt. Participants where given a poster with pictures of pirates to find in local bars and food merchants.
On Sunday, a treasure hunt occurred in Downtown Mystic for kids. Twenty-nine local businesses participated to find “booty” at each location using a treasure map. The hunt lasted throughout the morning until the afternoon. Around high noon at Bank Square Books, it was pirate story time. Following that, was a pirate costume contest in which young and adult swashbucklers participated.
This year, the siege of pirates arrived on the Argia at Mystic River Park, a militia and Symfony ship arrived at the Steamboat Inn dock in an effort to beat back the invaders. As cannons fired back and forth, the pirates kidnapped and imprisoned some community leaders for ransom, including a mermaid. The proceeds went to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. Music was provided by Pirates for Peace, a four-man ’60s, ’70s and ’80s genre band from Plainfield. This year’s event was a complete success, both spectators and participants feel that it’s a wonderful new tradition to this community.