A Life Displayed in Pictures

Don Scinto won't reveal his age (which stopped at 58), but you can see his life in posters and photos.

He has posters of himself boxing, running the Polka Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport and serving on the Board of Alderman in Bridgeport. He's even known some Penthouse girls.

And for 35 years, his job as Justice of the Peace has brought him to many interesting wedding ceremonies.

"It's a little hobby. You go to parties. You meet a lot of nice people," said Scinto.

He's performed costumed weddings, weddings in water, a wedding on a plane and a Lady Godiva wedding with a naked bride.

"I do what I have to do. I'm very accomodating," said Scinto, who insists he's 58 years old and has been that way for a long time. "When I do a wedding, I'm very theatrical."

In 1978, he wedded a Nichols woman to a Saudi prince.

He's also been in marketing, which provided his income for many years, and was director of the Bridgeport Parking Authority. Before he retired several years ago, he worked for state's Lottery Department. 

Scinto has also sang with Mario Lanza, and spent two years as a state sheriff ("the most horrible two years of my life," he said).

As a boxer, he was short and a lightweight but only lost one bout before quitting the sport. He also played football.

"I weighed 168 pounds. I was a linebacker," he said, adding that he started in the sport because of "guts a strong desire to play ball."

Scinto has run numerous local pageants for the Polka Dot Playhouse.

His wife, Marie, also had an illustrious career as Bridgeport's Republican Registrar and the first chairwoman of the state Republican Party.

Today he stays home to care for his wife, but said he's lived a full life.

"I have no regrets," he said.