Honoring a Son’s Legacy Through Opportunity
Michael J. Landino Memorial Automotive Fund
Education has always held a special place in Rita Landino’s life. As a first-generation college student and the daughter of immigrants, she understood early on how transformative access to education could be. That belief carried her from her hometown of Hamden to earning a Ph.D. from UConn, and later into a nearly four-decade career as a respected faculty member and counselor at Southern Connecticut State University.
When Rita’s son, Michael, began his own higher education journey, he chose Gateway Community College, where he could explore his interests in art and automotive technology. Adopted as a young child, Michael brought immense joy and hope to Rita’s life. She remembers how deeply he appreciated Gateway’s faculty, not just for their expertise, but for their genuine commitment to students and their success.
Michael’s unexpected passing, just two years into his college experience, was devastating. In the face of that loss, Rita made a powerful decision: to honor Michael’s life and values by creating something lasting. In 2014, she established the Michael J. Landino Memorial Automotive Fund, dedicated to supporting students in Gateway’s Automotive Technology program.
Rita is confident the scholarship reflects exactly who Michael was.
“He was a very generous young man,” she says. “He would be happy to know that his legacy is having an impact on so many lives.”
That impact is tangible. Through tuition assistance and tool fellowships, the scholarship has helped students offset costs and gain access to the tools they need to begin careers in automotive service.
“The generosity of Rita Landino, as expressed through the Michael J. Landino Memorial Automotive Fund, has directly assisted students in our Automotive Technology program,” says Daniel Fuller, Professor and Chair of the Automotive Technology Department. “This funding has made a significant difference in the lives of the students who received these awards.”
Beyond fellowships, the fund also supports equipment and technology needs within the program, strengthening the learning environment for future students. Rita’s connection to Gateway has remained personal and ongoing. She has met fellowship recipients, followed the program’s growth, and proudly reflects on donating Michael’s toolbox to the department nearly a decade ago, a small but meaningful symbol of his continued presence.
As an educator herself, Rita has always been impressed by Gateway’s approach.
“They meet students where they are and respond to what’s needed,” she shares. “Gateway is an important entry point into higher education.”
Through her generosity, Rita has transformed loss into opportunity, ensuring that students pursuing hands-on careers have the support they need to succeed. Michael’s legacy lives on not only in memory, but in the futures of the students his fellowship continues to uplift.
Image: Rita Landino