County may be familiar with the

name Palmieri.After all, Filomeno

(Phil) came to this country from

Italy with his family when he was 15 years

old in 1930. His father returned to his

native country, but Filomeno remained here

to shift for himself. He worked at any job

he could, including working in a mill in

Westport.

Soon he was farming the land and eventually

he married his wife Josephine and the

couple had six children, including Carl,

who as a youngster growing up worked in

the family business, Palmieri’s Nursery on

Main Street. The nursery is still run by

Carl’s brother Frank and their mother, now

92.

Carl retired last year and sold his business

Computer Resolutions, which is now

run by one of his sons. However, for more

than 40 years, Carl has enjoyed writing

down little bits of advice that he would hear

people say, whether they came from his

parents, his brothers and sisters, other relatives,

friends, acquaintances, and even

famous people and authors.

In recent years, he has taken these bits of

advice and has categorized them into subjects

and ultimately into seven small paperback

books, which he has self-published

through BookSurge with availability

through Amazon.com.

Some of the books focus on the advice

and philosophy that his parents expressed;

others are collections of inspirational sayings.

In recent years, Carl has published

two books, “The Food Contrarian: Quotes

for People Recovering from or Dealing

with Eating Issues” and “Off The Wall

Contrarian: Quotes for People in

Recovery.” Palmieri has complemented his

book writing and publishing with his

hands-on approach to helping addicts, especially

those who have food issues, address

their problems. On Thursday, March 6 he

will participate in a 12-step program at

Norwalk Hospital to help people with their

food issues, an addiction he is familiar

with.

He has had his own personal battles with

addictions, whether they are alcohol, food

or even gambling. Two of his three brothers

died from health issues resulting from

being overweight. His brother Joe died at

age 58 in 2003. Nine months later, Vinny,

died at 62.

Today, Carl, at age 65 is proud that finally

after years of struggling with his own

weight (topping 211 for his 5’8” frame) he

has managed to maintain a weight between

160 and 170 lbs. In 1990, when his daughter

announced she was going to get married,

Carl was determined to get his weight

down to 180 lbs. He accomplished his goal,

at least through the marriage ceremony. At

the reception, he picked up his old habits.

Carl says the key to addressing addiction

is to first admit “you are powerless and

can’t do it alone.” He wants people to know

that they don’t have to be alone, nor should

they be alone to combat their addictions,

especially food addictions. He understands

the problem After all, he grew up in an

Italian household where food was king.

He also grew up inWestport in an immigrant

family. During his teens felt the

shame of his being part of an immigrant

family that struggled to feed six children.

He never had a bicycle. He was “pigeonholed”

in school. As the son of an immigrant

inWestport, a school official told him

not to waste his time going to college.

Fortunately, Carl did not heed the advice.

He earned a bachelor’s degree and became

a successful businessman.

Finally, through recovery programs, he

realized that while his parents were humble

immigrants he was raised with a value system

richer than anything money could buy.

He learned the importance of a good work

ethic. He learned the value of honesty and

integrity. So, when he came to such realization,

he embraced his heritage.

He began to let go of the emotional baggage

that he had dragged with him into

adulthood and for which he sought refuge

through his addictions. Others have helped

him through the 12-step programs and he

now he enjoys the personal satisfaction in

helping others.

“We’re eating over our emotions,” said

Carl, explaining why people overeat. He

said the values that his parents had given

him became crystal-clear to him in the 12-

step program. He saw a connection

between his eating habits and his relationships

with his parents.

Carl praises Norwalk Hospital for its

efforts in hosting 12-step programs. He

says the hospital has been a phenomenal

resource. With the programs offered at the

hospital people can address the spiritual,

emotional and physical aspects of their

problems with the help of others.

With two of his seven published books

about recovery, Carl has a third book on

recovery planned for this year that will

focus on relationships and addicts. He finds

relationships at the core of many problems,

whether it is the relationships that people

have with themselves or with others, especially

parents and other family members.

“Basically, what worked for me was

going to a program that got me support, not

only with my eating, but also the reason I

was eating.”

Anyone who would like more information

about upcoming 12-step programs,

including the March 6 program at Norwalk

Hospital, should call Carl Palmieri:(days)-

383-0445 or evenings at 255-6065.

Rita Paappaazzian is a freelance journalist who

has covered Norwalk issues extensively. Email

can be sent to her at ritapap.

comcast.net.

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