Owner of Deary's Gymnastics in Killingly to be honored as business leader of the year

From the moment a child starts walking, they can begin classes at Deary’s Gymnastics in Danielson.

The gym is a lifelong passion project for former All-American gymnast Robin Deary Fillmore, who started the gym after graduating from Southern Connecticut State University where Deary Fillmore picked up her All-American accolades on the balance beam.

In addition to owning the gym, Deary Fillmore also was the coach of the Killingly High School and Woodstock Academy's gymnastics teams, for which she was inducted into the CT High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Deary Fillmore first operated Deary’s Gymnastics out of a small gym in Brooklyn for 17 years before moving to the current location at 31 Commerce Ave. in Danielson.

“I knew pretty much from the time I was 12 that this is what I was going to do,” Deary Fillmore said.

About Deary’s

The gym serves boys and girls from ages 1 through their college years. The University of Connecticut’s competitive club team practices and competes at Deary’s. In addition, local high school programs such as Woodstock Academy and Killingly High School train and compete at Deary’s.

In a typical year, Deary’s averages about 500 gymnasts throughout all of its age groups, not including the UConn club team. They currently have around 100 boys, while the rest of their gymnasts are female.

At Deary’s, children can begin competing in meets at the age of 6. Female gymnasts compete in the floor, vault, uneven bars and beam events, while male gymnasts compete in the floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar.

A number of Deary’s gymnasts have gone on to compete in college. Several have followed in Deary’s footsteps and have gone on to become All Americans at Southern Connecticut. Other colleges where former Deary’s gymnasts have competed include Springfield College, University of Bridgeport, University of Rhode Island and Texas Woman’s University.

Business leader of the year

In recognition of all her efforts, Deary Fillmore will be honored with the business leader of the year award at the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards gala on May 30. The gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock. To register for the event, visit nectchamber.com/awards-gala.

The business leader of the year award is presented to an individual for outstanding business leadership and active participation in community organizations.

Deary Fillmore said she is honored to be recognized as the business leader of the year.

“I was humbled and honored,” she said.