Hamden Lodge Announces 2012 Elk and Officer of the Year

Hamden Lodge #2224 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will honor Elk of the Year, Nancy J. Torello and Officer of the Year, Alton Hudson at its Elk and Officer of the Year Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 10 at 7 p.m.

The evening will include a full course dinner, cash bar and awards ceremony. The public is welcome. Tickets are $15 per person and are available at the Hamden Elks Lodge, located at 175 School Street, evenings after 4 pm and weekends after 12 noon. For more information, please call the Lodge at 248-2224 during those times. Proceeds will support the Elks many youth and veterans projects and area charities.

ELK OF THE YEAR: Nancy J. Torello has been a member of Hamden Lodge for more than eight years and currently serves as Lodge Chaplain. She has shown her strong commitment to the Elks and her community by involvement in many of Lodge programs and events.

She has been active in fundraising for Elks Veteran’s programs, which include recent efforts to raise funds for Fisher House to be erected on the West Haven Veteran's Hospital campus; co-chairing a 50’s dance in honor of a fallen soldier to benefit the WHVA Recreation Department; assisted in the hosting of the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall while on view Hamden and assisting with the Elks Annual Veteran’s Luncheons. She has supported Elk Americanism programs through her participation in Flag Day Ceremonies and Memorial Day parades.

A member of the Hamden Lodge House Committee member for many years, Nancy served as House Committee Chair for the past two years. Displaying her culinary talents and joy of cooking, she has prepared for meals, buffets, and Lodge events too numerous to count. Preparing sandwiches for the homeless, participating in “Midnight Run,” shows her compassionate nature. Her outrageous sense of humor, coupled with her caring and comforting manner, lightens any situation.

Nancy enjoys volunteering within community. She serves a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church; has assisted in raising funds for the Father McGivney Cancer Center, Hospital of Saint Raphael and Hamden Animal Shelter. She is a member of the Hamden Veteran’s Commission and often works with Legion Post 88 in their fundraising endeavors.

A lifelong Hamden resident, Nancy graduated from Hamden High School, then attended SCSU and Gateway Community College. She is certified as an Arthritis Exercise Trainer and Lecturer, a Certified Nurses Assistant through the State of Connecticut, as a Therapeutic Recreation Director and is certified in CPR.  Previously employed by Atria Larson Place and Evergreen Woods, she is currently employed at Hamden Health Care. Her public relations, team leadership, community outreach and community development skills are evident in all that she is involved with. Nancy is the daughter of the late Virginia and Anthony Torello. She enjoys spending time with her brother Bill and sister-in-law Peggy Torello.

OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Alton Hudson has shown his strong commitment to the Elks and our community. He currently serves as 2nd Vice President and hopes to serve as 1st Vice President during the upcoming year. He has been a Hamden Lodge member for 29 years and has been involved in Lodge Hamden and North Haven Flag Day Ceremonies, Community Award Nights, Soccer Shoot, Cabaret Night, Hoop Shoot and has participated in many Lodge Veterans fundraising efforts, such as Fisher House of Connecticut. Alton has supported numerous Lodge sponsored dinners, parades, programs and events throughout the years.

After more than 23 years in the Air Force, he retired and moved to North Haven, where he commenced a civilian career in sales and marketing with Norden Systems Inc. of United Technologies Corporation. After 14 years, he retired from Norden and worked as Sales and Marketing Manager for the LCD Lighting in Orange, retiring after 17 years.  

Al has also been active in Masonic activities. While in Italy, he served as a Past Master of the Lodge and was made a “Life Member” of the Italian Masonic Lodge. He continues in Masonic activities and remains a member of the Corinthian Lodge #103 in North Haven, Milford Chapter #49 R.A.M., Milford Adam Sattig Council No. 35 R.& S.M. and is a Knight Templar in Hamilton Commandery No.5, in Stratford, CT.

Al also served several organizations within the Air Force Association (AFA). While on active duty, he served as the Founding President of the Air Force Association (AFA) Senior Enlisted Advisory Council in Washington, DC., whose members consisted of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, selected annually from units all over the world. He also was the AFA National Secretary, and the founding president of the Charles A. Lindbergh AFA Chapter in CT.

Al served as President of the aviation group known as the International Order of Characters (IOC). The IOC is an aviation-oriented educational foundation whose members include famous aviation personalities from all over the world. Al remained as the IOC President for 9 years and then served the next 10 years on the Board of Directors. During this time, the IOC also donated over $750,000 in aviation related college scholarships.

Al serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Air Museum and is a past President and Board of Directors Member of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program. He is a captain in the Second Company of the Governor's Foot Guard in New Haven and has served in the unit for more than 30 years, plus also holds the title of Past Chief of Staff of the organization. He also is a member of the American Legion Post #88 in Hamden.

Al graduated from Aliquippa High School in Pennsylvania and later while in the Air Force, attended several colleges and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from Troy State University. Al’s late wife Honey Hudson was one of the first group of female members to join Hamden Elks and was an also an active member. They have three children, Alton Jr. who lives in NYC, daughters Meredith in Las Vegas and Lorraine in Guilford.