This past Friday we just started a new challenge working with the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, helping with a bunch of initiatives for the Fitzgerald neighborhood. This historic neighborhood is home to both Marygrove College and University of Detroit Mercy. It is also home to Lollo Park, a great community park that is in the process of adding so many great and new features. My team is tasked with generating ideas to lay the groundwork for a park committee that will run the park for years to come. This got me thinking about names, and the history of longstanding parks and community spaces. So I took to the internet and found out the story behind the name. Check it out.

We can never know, perhaps Nathan Lollo lived by this principle.

Nadalino [Nathan] P. Lollo was born in 1915 to immigrant parents – Valerio and Lucy.  He was the second of four children growing up in a Detroit Italian family.  Nathan graduated high school and served for 5 years in the Army during World War II.  He worked as a driver for the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department.

FATEFUL FRIDAY

On Friday, September 26, 1952 Nathan and his brother Joseph were driving to the bowling alley where they participated in a league.  Joe lived right around the block from Nathan.  Traffic at the corner of Coyle and Fenkell was heavy.   Nathan noticed a man standing on the corner waving a white cane.  This blind man looked indecisive about crossing; Nathan did the right thing.  He told his brother to pull over so he could help the blind man cross the street.

“He was always thinking of others”, remarked Joe after the accident.  Just as Nathan and his charge – Mr. Takach –  passed  Joe’s parked vehicle, a drunk driver emerged from around the corner and struck the pair.  Mr. Takach was seriously injured; Nathan was pronounced dead at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital.

Nathan Lollo was a 36 year old everyday hero. He left behind his siblings, parents, and wife Frances.   He is remembered with a small children’s playground located on Puritan at the corner of Cherrylawn in Northwest Detroit, that is now titled “Lollo Park”

This is a random piece of history we might take for granted. I do not know how we will incorporate this past into the future prospects or opportunities, but I always believe there is value in knowing and understanding history.

We are not makers of history. We are made by it.

-MLK