Angelo Zuccolo (1908 – 1956) was born on November 8, 1908 in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Italian immigrants Elvezio and Maria (Fargnoli) Zuccolo. Growing up in Providence he attended the city’s public schools and joined the Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 9 at the Federal Hill House. His association with scouting would last the remainder of his life and have an impact on thousands of scouts that followed in his footsteps. He was affectionately known as “Zook” to Rhode Island Boy Scouts and their leaders for his devotion and development of scouting. He was Director of Public Relations at Narragansett Council Headquarters and a prominent and well-loved leader at Camp Yawgoog. He also served as a member of the Roman Catholic bishop of Providence’s Lay Committee on Scouting.

In his honor, Providence’s youth recreational center, formerly the Gessler Street Pool was named after him and the Rhode Island Council of Boy Scouts named a campsite at Camp Yawgoog in his memory.

Angelo died in his native Providence on May 8, 1956 at the young age of 47. He was survived by his wife Edith (Buoncervello) and son Angelo Jr., who achieved fame in his own right in his adopted state of New York as professor of theater SUNY Broome Community College. Its theater was renamed the Angelo Zuccolo Little Theater in his honor following his death in 2013.

Russell J. DeSimone