Frank Recchia

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Dec 7, 2025, 6:26 PM

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Updated

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Mayor Joe Ganim declared Sunday "Charles Fuller Day" in Bridgeport – a tribute to the man with autism who has been a familiar face in the city for decades.

"Everybody knows Charles and loves Charles," Ganim told News 12. "That's why I wanted to do something about it.”

The mayor said that the designation “goes a long way toward showing Charles how much we love and value him – not just as a person who advocates on behalf of the autism community, but as a kind soul whose gentle humor and caring heart touch everybody who meets him."

News 12 has been chronicling Fuller's life for years. In 2020, the 53-year-old was the subject of the NFL Film "Meet Charles Fuller, Jr." which told the story of Charles' longtime friendship with football legend Jerry Rice.

Fuller explained how he first came to know Rice.

"Jerry saw a story News 12 did about me becoming homeless after my mother and father and sister died, and he called me up and sent me $500 -- and we've been friends ever since," Fuller said. "I told Jerry today about having Sunday named after me and he was thrilled.”

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