Ralph Cairone

Ralph Albert Cairone served as President of the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club during Rotary Year 1972-1973. He served as Club Secretary the previous year. Ralph was owner of Carlon Rubber Products Company, located on Gilbert Street in Derby, a manufacturer of foam flotation devices and other sponge products for the military and civilian safety usages. He was born in Shelton November 19, 1917, son of Carmine and Helena Scarpa Cairone, who had immigrated from Italy to Shelton around 1900. He married Mary Marie Monaco. 

For several years during the latter half of the 1950s Ralph and Mary owned and operated Derby Aquarium, a pet and supplies store on Derby Avenue. Ralph was a World War II veteran having served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945. He was employed by Sponge Rubber Products (later B.F. Goodrich) in Shelton prior to the war and returned to the position of Forman there afterwards until he formed Carlon Rubber Products Company in 1965. He died November 1, 1998 in Derby at the age of 81.