With help from Love Tribe Open Hearts Center and community contributors, the memory of Henry Bromley, a person who helped to make this community special, has been commemorated with a newly-planted memorial white oak tree on the Branford Green. Bromley will also be celebrated with a free “Concert for Henry” at the showmobile on the Green Saturday, July 22.

To a large number of community members, Bromley, who passed away last year, was a friendly fixture on the Green, in downtown Branford, and at Branford High School sporting events during the more than 20 years he resided in the center of town.

Pushing his decorated walker ahead of him, Bromley would make his way along Main Street’s sidewalks with a smile for everyone. He would be among the first in attendance at Branford events on the Green and became known to high school teams as Branford’s number-one fan for cheering on the Hornets at home games. Upon learning of his passing on Dec. 15, 2022, many community members shared memories of Bromley with Zip06/The Sound.

Following Bromley’s passing, Sal Annunziato, founder of Branford-based Love Tribe Open Hearts, organized a fundraiser to create a fitting memorial for Bromley.

“We raised close to $1,800 through the Love Tribe community and many other community members who also donated. Now we have the tree, and we’re also looking to do a bench, as well,” said Annunziato.

Love Tribe Open Hearts yoga participant Nancy McCormack contributed to the fundraiser in honor of Bromley.

“Henry was a staple around town. He was at every football game. He was at every concert with his walker, dancing. He was like the face of everything that was going on in town. When Sal started the fundraiser to do something in Henry’s honor, I was absolutely on board,” said McCormack.

McCormack recently joined Annunziato, together with Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and members of the Branford Green Committee, to view the newly-planted white oak installed in Bromley’s honor. It’s been planted next to the new pollinator garden on the Branford Green.

The donated tree will eventually be as significant in scale as the oldest tree on the Branford Green, a 150-year-old white oak, said David Minicozzi, chair of the Branford Green Committee. Located alongside Blackstone Avenue, the grand old tree stands just across the road from Bromley’s memorial tree and is currently between 50 and 60 feet in height.

Cosgrove said Bromley’s memorial tree and the upcoming concert are a fitting tribute to a person known by many who met him in the town center, on the town green, or at high school games.

“Everyone knew him, whether it was down at the high school watching the games or up here on the Green. After the community learned about his passing and people inquired about what we could do to honor and remember Henry, the idea of the memorial tree came about. And we do have memorial trees on the Green because of the program that’s been developed and is overseen by the Branford Green Committee, as stewards of the Green,” said Cosgrove.

Green Committee member Don Gentile said the memorial tree program has helped many to remember loved ones through the symbolic installation of a tree in their honor.

“This particular tree is very appropriate for Henry because it’s something that North American culture recognizes as a symbol of rebirth and calmness. It was also used at the World Trade Center to remember the victims,” said Gentile. “So it’s an important tree, and it’s important to us as it points toward a contribution to the future of the Green. So I think Henry will have a long-lasting impact, and if we can all remember his spirit, we can all be better people going into the world.”

“Thanks to Sal and the people who supported his idea, this tree has now been established,” Cosgrove added. “It’s a great tribute to Henry that will be here for generations. And it’s another great contribution by Love Tribe, which has done a number of events on the Green over the years to support the community.”

The next event Love Tribe Open Hearts will bring to the Green is the Concert for Henry, featuring The Black Kites (check out this classic rock band, with Annunziato on vocals, @theblackkites on Facebook). The free, rock n’ roll live music show will play Saturday, July 22, 6 to 8 p.m. on the Branford Green at the showmobile stage.

Annunziato said the concert will be a way to celebrate Bromley, who has been missed this summer at the music events underway on the Green. Many, including Annunziato, recall Bromley enjoyed singing and dancing in front of the stage.

“It’s all in honor of Henry,” said Annunziato.