By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Mayor Dorinda Borer joined city native Brian F. Banning Jr. to unveil a butterfly sculpture dedicated to his late mother in Old Grove Park on July 22.
Banning, who now lives in Tennessee, donated the sculpture to the city in memory of his mom, Phyllis Banning, who loved butterflies.
The former Phyllis Franco died unexpectedly in 2023 at age 69.
The newly erected butterfly sculpture was created by Dale Rogers, a metal sculptor from Haverhill, Massachusetts, and stands in place of a fountain that had long been a centerpiece of the shoreline park on Palace Street.
The sculpture features a silver stainless steel butterfly atop a brown weathering steel stand and base. The double-sided butterfly faces east and west for the sunrise and sunset, in accordance with Banning Jr.’s wishes.
The sculpture is encircled by purple coneflowers — Phyllis Banning’s favorite color — as well as a silver plaque adorned with a purple border and a purple inscription memorializing Banning.
During the late-morning ceremony, Borer welcomed the Banning and Franco families and delivered heartwarming remarks about Phyllis Banning.
Banning Jr. was accompanied by his sister, Sandy Ballard, and his brothers, William and Nicholas Banning, along with other members of his mother’s family, including siblings and grandchildren.
He thanked Borer, mayor’s office volunteer Beth Sabo and the city for their partnership in making the project happen.
“Today we gather not just to mourn a loss but to honor a life, a life that meant so much to so many,” said Banning Jr., reading prepared remarks. “My mother, Phyllis Banning, was the kind of person who quietly left the world better than she found it. She loved deeply, gave freely, and taught me the value of kindness and resilience.”
He continued: “Phyllis wasn’t just my mother; she was a Westie through and through. Raised right here in West Haven, this city was in her blood. She walked these beaches, knew every corner of town and carried the heart of West Haven with her everywhere she went.
“This butterfly sculpture now placed here by the shoreline — where the ocean meets the sky — symbolizes her spirit: free, graceful and ever-present. Butterflies remind us that transformation is part of life. Though she has left this world, she has transformed into something that continues to touch us — in memory, in love and in the quiet moments when we still feel her near.”
Banning Jr. concluded his remarks with a final tribute to his mom.
“One thing she always said was, ‘It’s never goodbye; it’s see you later,’” he said, choking back tears.
Banning Jr. said he chose the location because of his frequent visits to the Grove when he was young and because he thought it would “remind all who pass by of the beauty, hope and enduring power of a mother’s love.”