Town Council

Valerie “Val” DePaolo was raised in Southington, graduated from Southington High School and attended Boston University on a full basketball scholarship.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and attended New England School of Law in Boston earning her Juris Doctor degree in 1987.  After being admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, Val continued to reside and work in the Boston area until returning to her hometown with her wife and two sons in 2001.  Val has been a partner in the local law firm of Sheffy, Mazzaccaro, DePaolo, DeNigris, LLP since 2004 and her practice focuses primarily on estate and elder law planning, probate and real estate matters.

Currently, Val is serving her first term as a member of the Southington Town Council.  In addition, she is an officer of The DePaolo Family Foundation, a member of the SHS Business Advisory Committee, a member of the VITAS Ethics Committee and a volunteer with the Southington Animal Control facility.  She is a past officer and board member of the Main Street Community Foundation and served as a member of the Foundation’s Bradley Barnes Advisory Committee.  She is a former board member of the Southington Library and Museum.  Other past involvement includes The United Way Board of Directors, Southington Sports Hall of Fame Committee, Board of Deacons and Stephen Ministry at First Congregational Church and a member of the Southington Dementia Friendly action team.

In addition to her community volunteer activities, Val has coached basketball for both boys and girls at the youth, middle school and high school levels and is a certified yoga instructor.  She has enjoyed raising her sons in the same town in which she grew up and where her family has a long history.  She is honored to have followed in both her grandfather’s (Valentine DePaolo) and her father’s (William V. DePaolo) footsteps as members of the Southington Town Council.  She learned from both of them that listening to the needs of the citizens, working in a cooperative and compassionate manner with other elected officials and, ultimately, making decisions that are in the best interests of the community will generally foster a positive resolution to the issues of the day.  Val looks forward to be able to continue meeting and talking with residents to hear about their perspectives and vision for the town and how she can be an advocate to have their voices heard.