A unique revolutionary connection: Leonard DeMaio reveals his discovery

by Sarah Barr

Staff Writer

A longtime Wethersfield resident who battled to retain music education, art, history and culture now finds that fighting for the right side of the “American Experiment” is in his DNA. Literally.

“Who in their right mind thinks they are a descendant of a king? Certainly not a kid who grew up during the [Great] Depression,” Leonard DeMaio, now 90 years old, said.

DeMaio has a French connection. He can trace his ancestry back to King Louis XVI, which means he has deep patriotic roots.

“It was ‘Good Ol’ Louie’ before he lost his head who bankrolled 5,500 French troops for [Gen.] George Washington with Marquis de Lafayette and Comte de Rochambeau and the help of the French fleet under Admiral [Francois Joseph Paul] de Grasse that sealed the victory at [the Battle of] Yorktown,” DeMaio said.

On top of his many musical and educational achievements, DeMaio is a published author. (submitted)

In other words, King Louis XVI is a big reason why America can celebrate its 250th birthday. For DeMaio to wind up living in Wethersfield, the town where the winning strategy “to turn the world upside down” was planned, is a full-circle moment.

“Not for all the tea in China, or gold, or French francs [now euros] would I exchange my American-born citizenship, 250 years after the fact,” DeMaio said of his destiny.

As fate would have it, there is another headline in history repeating itself. He is the recipient of the George Washington Award from Founding Forward, formerly Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

This prestigious civic award is presented by the nonprofit organization to honor individuals, schools and organizations for outstanding achievements in promoting the American way of life, patriotism and civic responsibility. He received this highest honor for American culture and music, the prelude to this ancestral goldmine.

Leonard DeMaio has earned several awards for his work in education, music, art and culture. (submitted)

Music is not DeMaio’s life’s work, it is a notable link to his past. On his father’s side is a straight line of Italian Catholics. However, on his mother’s side intrigue led to some investigation.

“My mother’s maiden name was DeSarro, or so I thought,” he said of the pianist, teacher and librarian. “Along the way, it started to unravel.”

At first, it was questions and comments about how her family didn’t “look Italian.” DeMaio described his mother’s family as chic, with fellow musicians mentioning “you know your mother’s family are of noble class.”

“I was bewildered,” he said. “Are you kidding?”

He and his mother’s youngest sister Dora decided to get to the bottom of this. They reached out to their Great Uncle Eddie, who was retired from the Secret Service. They wrote what DeMaio describes as a “long questioning letter mentioning several incidents” over the years and asked if there was any truth regarding a connection to nobility.

“A week later, we received a large manilla envelope and its contents blew us away.”

The findings cleared the air on several topics. First, “DeSarro” was really “deSarreaux,” connecting them to the family name of French Kings Louis the XV and XVI. As the story goes, because of the French Catholic coup and the St. Bartholomew Massacre of Protestant nobility, members were given new names to protect their lives. This in turn answered questions as to why so many of DeMaio’s cousins were Protestant and Masons.

Now he had a paper trail. Next would come the scientific proof.

“I’ve got papers like a dog,” he insisted.

“Genetic bloodwork was taken from three known living male descendants of Louis the XVI which led to conclusive findings,” DeMaio was informed. “I am the oldest living grandson or granddaughter of Louis XVI.”

All this is sealed with an explanation in the deSarreaux Coat of Arms that denotes the royal colors, the Masonic eye of wisdom, and a display of grapes, a symbol of life and wealth. The name is associated with engineers, the arts, sculptors, contractors and teachers, all professions within DeMaio’s ancestral tree.

His grandfather Joseph was a math whiz, artistic stone sculptor, and a consultant on Gillette Castle in East Haddam.

The family motto reads “the road to success is not strewn with flowers.” It means life is full of hard work, bumps and challenges — something DeMaio can relate to — as for all his life he has tried to stay grounded.

“Even after lavish ceremonies, I still had to go home and cut the grass,” he chuckled, noting despite how serious life could be, he found it easier to face challenges with humor.

Now, one would think that all this information would be ripe for a book. Well, you would only be half right. DeMaio is an author. “The Artful Dodger: Collecting and Investing in Fine Art without a Spare Million in Pocket Change” and just out now in what DeMaio calls a perfect storm in timing, “The Tobacco Field Kids and Mr. De.”

Ask him about these efforts and you’ll get a complete history lesson, appropriate as this man ahead of his time in synthesized music and curriculum now has a place in American and Wethersfield history. He can even sign his name to that: Leonard D. deSarreaux-DeMaio, KSMA KCOSA. A proud American. WL

Leonard DeMaio’s books are available on amazon.com.