“My wife became ill and that was the most important thing to me,” he said. “The night before I won the election, my wife found out she was pregnant with our daughter, Gabriella Rose,” Grillo said.Īfter his first term, his wife’s health problems caused Grillo to pause his political aspirations. He won his first election almost 30 years ago, a seat on the Burrell School Board. “He was probably more nervous than I was,” Grillo said. A New Kensington native, he married Barbara in 1985 for the first wedding in Burrell Lake Park and the first wedding officiated by then-Mayor Dennis Kowalski. Grillo remembers dates by way of life’s landmarks with his late wife, Barbara J. “That helped him become a successful councilman by giving his heart, soul and dedication back to the community.” “Joe’s public work has a lot to do with his background where he was taught to respect other people and respect his community,” he said. Milito knew Grillo since the eighth grade, and they have been friends ever since. Grillo tried to become the third mayor in the class but lost to Rich Callender in 2015. Classmates include two mayors, New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo and former Arnold Mayor Larry Milito. Grillo proudly describes himself a product of what he calls the Alle-Kiski Valley’s greatest high school seniors, Valley High School’s Class of 1978. “I will do that if I can remember my lines.” “I would love to get back to the theater,” he said. With a history of singing with church and school choirs, Grillo is an amateur actor who has performed in about 30 stage shows. Grillo, 61, has been around long enough and done enough to become somewhat of local institution he has played Santa Claus for community events for 42 years and continues to sing “God Bless America” for official events for the American Legion and others. Grillo credits his mentors for inspiring him to continue his long tenure on council: Arnold’s late Mayor Willie DeMao and the late New Kensington Councilman Weddie Leibert. “I would like to see someone step in with fresh ideas,” he said. Grillo, who is semi-retired from security and sales, wants to spend more time with family and his girlfriend. “I’ve given it long and hard thought since 2018 when I had a cancer scare,” Grillo said. He announced last week he would not seek reelection this year during a council meeting this week. After 16 years, Lower Burrell Councilman Joe Grillo said it’s time to go.
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