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Television studios named after former Mayor Theodore Dimauro

Date: 11/13/2014

SPRINGFIELD – Friends and family members of former Mayor Theodore Dimauro gathered at the new home of the Springfield cable access television studios at the corner of State and Main streets on Nov. 10 to celebrate the naming of the studios in his honor.

Dimauro, who passed away in September 2013, was the mayor who successfully brought cable television to Springfield. According to Anthony Cignoli, who served on the committee that determined a way to honor Dimauro, Thomas Menino, the late mayor of Boston, said the contract Dimauro negotiated was a template for Boston’s contract.

In an alcove of the studio’s lobby in clear view of the large window on the building’s State Street side are photos denoting Dimauro’s career as well as a bust of the former mayor.

William Foley, who served as Dimauro’s chief of staff, told Reminder Publications the mayor was under pressure from the management of both WWLP and WGGB (then WHYN) television not to bring cable into the city.

“There was pressure from inside and from outside of government as well as the respondent’s legal counsels,” Foley said. “He withstood a good measure of political pressure.”

Foley said Dimauro was very “thorough and analytical” and the “vetting process was exhaustive.”

Foley noted that Dimauro demanded and received certain concessions from the first company to serve the city, Continental Cable.

The mayor secured the endowment fund that financed the cable access facilities as well as making sure cable television was in the senior centers and schools.

Springfield residents were able to subscribe to cable television in 1984 thanks to Dimauro.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “Ted Dimauro was a shining light in the history of Springfield.”

Frank Gulluni, a member of the memorial committee, said the former mayor was “truly a pioneer who had great, great foresight.”

Gulluni said Dimauro told him the North End neighborhood that saw a drastic decline in its manufacturing concerns would eventually see redevelopment because of its proximity to Interstates 91 and 291.

Dimauro’s son Andrew said people regularly come up to him to express their admiration for his father and what he did as mayor.

Noting the new studio will be the home for political debates and programming, Andrew said, “When those days come our father will be tuning in to watch.”