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GUILFORD —

If you Google Guilford events, it’s highly likely that John “Cadillac” Saville will pop up in the content, and for good reason—this guy just keeps on giving back to his hometown.

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, John will be honored with a 2018 Beacon Award, Shore Publishing’s highest accolade for outstanding community volunteers. John was nominated by his peers, and it’s far from the first time community members have sought a way to say “thanks” to someone who tirelessly gives of his time and talent to help others.
 

In June 2018, Guilford Rotary honored John with a 2018 Paul Harris Fellowship Award. It was John’s second time receiving the award, which is one of the highest honors Rotary can bestow upon a person, in recognition of their outstanding contributions and exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary: placing “service above self.”

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An award-winning radio personality who’s been in the business for many years and is currently on-air for iHeart radio with Hartford’s Country 92.5 and The River 105.9, John is also a well-known professional entertainer who has long given back to local events as an emcee/DJ through his company, John Saville Entertainment.

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“Part of what I’ve tried to do, every year since beginning my DJ business, is to help a different charity every month,” says John.

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John and his bride of 10 years, Patti, are also both wellness coaches and mentors.

“I’m big believer in karma,” John says. “Everything in life is based on motive and intent, and if it is your motive and intent to help other people, you’ll be blessed in life. When I get up every morning, I do my gratitude exercise and say, ‘Who can I help today?’ It could be helping them with better health or fitness, or by being a fun DJ for a wedding, or reaching out to someone who’s hurting and needs a kind word.”

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His volunteer emcee services stretch across the shoreline as the regular talent at many annual events, such as St. George Men’s Group St. Patrick’s Day Dance, Guilford Community Fund’s Valentine’s Day Dance, Shoreline Chamber of Commerce Taste of the Shoreline, and Guilford Knights of Columbus Halloween Dance, to name a few.

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“Guilford is my hometown, and this town has been so good to me,” says John. “Patti and I always want to give back.”

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In addition to putting himself on the calendar for annual hometown events, John also is the go-to guy for many good causes across the shoreline, with just a few recent events including non-profit Smile Anyway’s “Love is Louder” music festival in Branford, East Haven Rotary Club’s Anginette Wars, and even Guilford High School’s inaugural Crew Boosters Gala.

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Speaking of sports, John was Guilford’s first All-American in both football and wrestling (1973) and has trained as a natural bodybuilder for decades. John won his first natural bodybuilding championship in 2001 at the Tri-State Natural Bodybuilding Championship.

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“When I hit 30, I met somebody at World Gym in Branford who said, ‘You have potential to do well in natural bodybuilding shows,’” says John. “That was 30 years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been on a mission. I want to be the best version of who I am and inspire others that you really don’t have to look at certain way at a certain age. You can still be in great shape at any age.”

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On Sept. 22, John celebrated his 61st birthday. Just five months earlier, in May 2018, John clinched his most recent natural bodybuilding titles, winning the Men’s Physique Age 50+ at the 2018 OBC Natural New England Championships. He also placed fourth for Men’s Body Building Age 40+ and sixth in the event’s Men’s Body Building Open.

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John still works out in Branford at Planet Fitness.

“I work out five to six days a week, 45 minutes to an hour, but nutrition is 80 percent of what we look like,” says John. “What we have in the kitchen is important.”

In addition to co-owning John Saville Entertainment with Patti, the couple co-owns a regional segment of The Wellness Group, specializing in safer and healthier options for the body and home.

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In 2017, Guilford Rotary honored John’s efforts to motivate others to embrace health and fitness by naming him 2017 grand marshal of the Guilford Fair Parade, with the theme “Commit to be Fit.” John says it was an honor lead up a parade that not only embodies Guilford’s community spirit, but put the focus on celebrating kids in sports and encouraging Guilford citizens to improve their health.

“I really enjoyed being in the parade and chatting with people about what they can do to keep in great shape,” says John. “Just do a little something, every day.”

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John also attributes his seemingly boundless energy to staying healthy and fit and hopes he can continue to inspire and help others, especially now with his work through The Wellness Group.

“Fitness has always been a major part of my life, so I love to be in a position, with my wellness company, to help people with what they are putting in their bodies and in their homes,” he says.

He’s also thoroughly enjoying filling a demanding schedule as one of the state’s most highly sought wedding and event DJs (John Saville Entertainment just won a WeddingWire 2018 "Couples Choice Award" for CT, which recognizes the top five percent of five-star local wedding services); as well as continuing his career as one of Connecticut’s best-known on-air radio personalities.

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“I’ve been a DJ since April of 1980 and it’s been a gift, every day,” says John. “I’ll keep doing it as long as people feel I’m good at what I do!”