Danbury's longest serving common council member has passed away at age 96.  John Esposito Senior fought in four major battles in the Pacific Theater during WWII until being wounded during the battle of Iwo Jima.  He was awarded the Purple Heart. 

Esposito served Danbury as a volunteer fireman and on the Danbury common council consecutively for 27 years. 

His former 4th Ward Council colleague Tom Saadi called Esposito a mentor, friend, and a role model.  He says Esposito did not measure success through political recognition or public laurels but by the love and respect of family, friends and those he served as a volunteer and public official.

The Danbury Republican Town Committee is paying tribute to the Democratic stalwart, saying they wanted to remember a good and gracious man that both Republicans and Democrats looked to for guidance and wisdom. 

Esposito was the Father of 6 children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.