O

Okula Family

Harrison Avenue, Bethpage

Old Bethpage

Old Bethpage Village Restoration

A pre-Civil War farm village with original structures moved from various areas of the island to represent a typical Long Island working community of the 19th century. Structures include a general store and home (1866), a schoolhouse (1845), farm (1855) complete with barn, outbuildings and animals. Costumed staff demonstrates crafts, open hearth cooking, working and maintaining the farm, a tavern, church, black smith shop and more. Special features: Old Time Base Ball, L. I. Spring Festival, Old Fashioned Independence Day Celebration, Civil War Encampment, Long Island Fair, and Holiday Candlelight Evenings. All complete with reception center, gift shop, and cafeteria.

Old Homestead Hotel

Located south of the railroad tracks close to Broadway, the building was built in 1908 and was a general store. It was rented to John Deubel who ran it as an inn. When the inn burned down in ____, Mr. Deubel moved his operation to the corner of Central Avenue and Stewart Avenue. (See ________)

Old Motor Parkway

Built by William K. Vanderbilt in 1908 to be used as an auto raceway where drivers from around the world would compete for the Vanderbilt Cup made of Tiffany silver. The road ran from Queens to Ronkonkoma, about 48 miles, with 12 toll lodges and 65 bridges (the first road to build bridges to eliminate intersections). The road snaked across the Island twisting and turning around areas where landowners would not give up their land. The road was constructed of reinforced concrete. There were two layers of crushed stone laid on the roadbed separated by a sheet of wire mesh. A soupy mixture of cement and sand from Jones Beach was poured over the mixture, and brushed for texture.
After the 1910 race when 4 were killed and 20 injured it was decided the road was unsafe for racing. Tolls were $2.00, but reduced to $1.50 in 1912 and $1.00 in 1917. After 1924 with increased car ownership, 150,000 cars traveled the roadway each year. In 1933 the toll was $.40. With the opening of the Northern State Parkway in 1933 from Queens to Mineola presented the final blow to The Old Motor Parkway. It was sold to the state for back taxes. (Information from LONG ISLAND OUR STORY)

Orfan, Louis

FROM THE BETHPAGE TRIBUNE:

Louis Orfan, who was the Bethpage School District's legal counsel for 37 years and most recently served term as a member of the Bethpage Board of Education... Mr. Orfan was 81 [when he passed away in November 2006] and had lived in Bethpage for 51 years.

Born in Flushing, Queens in 1925, Mr. Orfan graduated from Newtown High School in Queens before leaving to serve in World War II. After being honorably discharged from the United States Army, Mr Orfan pursued his studies in law, completing his undergraduate degree at New York University before attending Indiana Law School. He started his private practice in 1955, and later, in 1958 was appointed general counsel to the Bethpage Schools.

In addition to serving Bethpage, Mr. Orfan was an attorney for Jericho, Locust Valley, and North Shore School Districts. Although he retired in the mid 90s, Mr. Orfan remained active in school and community issues and frequented Bethpage Board of Education meetings. He was elected to the Bethpage Board of Education in 2002, and was re-elected in 2005. Mr. Orfan also ran for a seat on the Oyster Bay Town Council twice during the late 1960's.

Mr. Orfan is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their three children, Elizabeth, Nicholas and John. Two grandchildren, Elias and Emmett, also survive him.

Ortiz, Jamie (1934-2004)

Jamie Ortiz resided in Bethpage since 1962. His company for the last 25 years developed marketing, promotional and advertising graphics for major corporations, banks, hospitals and educational institutions in the region. He previously co-owned a similar firm in New York City employing a staff of 25 designers and production personnel. He majored in advertising art and photography at the School of Industrial Arts, and was also a graduate of the New York City Community College, renamed New York City Technical College on whose faculty he later served.

He was a long time member of the Bethpage Rotary Club and served as president in 1983. The affiliation with the Rotary Club introduced him to The Gift of Life Inc., a charitable group which offers free open heart surgery in the U. S. to endangered children from the world over. Assuming leadership in the group, he joined two Latin American medical missions to help save needful children. He was a member of the Nassau County Hispanic Committee (Coordinating Agency for Spanish Americans) and a member of the board of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

During the celebration of America's Bicentennial, Jamie left for Bermuda to photograph the Tall Ships featured in 'Operation Sail' which graced the New York Harbor. His photos appeared in TIME and LIFE Magazine as well as other magazines in Europe and throughout the world.

Married to Judith Vargas-Ortiz for 48 years and their children Jamie David, Jacqueline, Judith and Joeline presented him them with 8 grandchildren.

Ott, Louis

Insurance Agent, 1903

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P

Page Drugs

H. Esposito, Ph. G., M. S., 355 Broadway.

Source: Bethpage Little League Score Card 1953

Parent Teacher Associations

Accomplishments and Activities of the Bethpage PTA
Date
Information
1922 Charter
1924 Words and music to "Central Park PTA" composed by Henry Ebisch
About 1930

School lunch program financed with our state aid. Hot lunches served at 5 cents per person. Needy children free. Only one paid cook. All the rest volunteer help.

Purchase of equipment for kindergarten.

1934 Purchase of backdrop for stage in Powell Ave. School to improve acoustics.
Purchase of radio-phonograph for the school.
Purchase of velvet curtains for stage.
Book awards started to classes having highest attendance of parents at PTA meetings.
1937-45 Purchase of outdoor play equipment.
Purchase of movie projector. Insurance on it paid by PTA
1940 Purchase of books for Powell Ave. School.
1944-47 Purchase of two pictures for each classroom.
Award of two effort prizes each year for 8th grade graduation.
Purchase of victrola records for school.
1948-50 Monthly teenage dances.
1950 Purchase of musical instrument for school use.
1951 Purchase of lectern for Broadway School.
1952 Purchase of picture library for Powell Ave. School.
1953 Establishment of the Bethpage PTA Scholarship Fund with a contribution of $100.

 

History of Bethpage Parent-Teacher Associations
Name
Date Found
Central Park PTA 1926
Bethpage PTA 1936
Bethpage PTA's Scholarship Fund June 1953
Bethpage H.S. PTA June 10, 1954
Bethpage Elementary PTA became 1954
Powell Avenue PTA 1955
Pine Ave. PTA June 1955
Central Blvd. PTA Dec. 1955
Kramer Lane PTA June 1957
Bethpage Council of PTA's 1957
Junior High School PTA 1959
Bloomingdale PTA June 1959

 

PTA Origins
Central Park Mothers' Club 1922
became
 
Central Park PTA 1926
which became
 
Bethpage PTA 1936
which became
 
Bethpage Elementary PTA 1954
which became
 
Powell Avenue PTA 1955
which became
 
Broadway Elementary PTA 1960
which became
 
Charles Campagne PTA 1962

The need was recognized by parents of children with special needs to organize and establish SEPTA in the Bethpage School District. A difficult undertaking in the beginning, but under the leadership of Judy Caputo we succeeded. On January 20th, 1976, with the assistance of the Nassau PTA leadership, Lori Aragona, Lillian Antonucci, Ann Albertson, Kathy Preziosi, Ann Galneck and Judy Caputo became charter members of Bethpage Special Education PTA.

Park View Market

Fortsch Bros., Broadway. Meats, Groceries, Delicatessen, Bakery. Phone Hicksville 1162. (Ad in Bethpage Newsgram - December 6, 1945)

Pauchon, Bernard

Waldorf Astoria French Chef; operated the Beau Sejour Resturant.

Paul's Auto Body

13 Baldwin Place.  collision repairs, auto painting & insurance work.

Pearsall, Rowland

First man to settle in the area where Plainview Road meets Cherry Avenue, from 1748 to his death. The farm was in his family until the mid 1850's

Pendl, Francis X. (d. 4/1/2004)

Former Chief and 50 year active member of the Bethpage Fire Department. Retired Nassau County Fire Marshall and Nassau County Fire Service Academy Instructor. Member of American Legion Post 86, NYS Fraternal Order of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Firefighters, International Assocation of Arson Investigators, Firefighters Association of the State of NY, Fire Museum Network, LI Antique Fire Apparatus Association, Delegate to the Nassau County Burn Center, Member of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, member of the Central Park Historical Society, the Civil War Preservation Trust, the Mount Rushmore Foundation and the Ellis Island Foundation. (FROM NEWSDAY - Saturday, April 3, 2004)

Former students of Francis X. Pendl at the Nassau County Fire Academy have found memories of the way he'd toss sourball candy to those who correctly answered his questions.

He'd also take his students into one of the academy training buildings, light a fire and have them sit and watch as it grew, and spread around them, until the hear finally drove them out. His goal was to teach them the ways of fire, replacing fear with knowledgeable respect for its power.

Frank Pendl, a former Bethpage fire chief and first deputy chief instructor at the county fire academy, trained thousands of firefighters over his 40-year career there, and worked with countless others as an arson investigator and inspector with the county fire marshal’s office.

He died April 1 in North Shore University Hospital after a two-month battle with cancer. He was 75.

'He could do anything - the man was a genius when it came to firefighting,' said Walter Grochala, a Washington, D.C., fire department paramedic and former Pendl student who returned home with five other firefighting alumni to pay their respects at a crowded funeral Tuesday. 'He knew how to get you to do things you didn’t think you could do.'

Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, Frank served briefly in the Navy and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Thompson, before moving out to 'the country,' as Bethpage seemed to the family then, in 1953. He joined the fire department a year later and rose through the ranks, becoming an assistant chief in 1962. in his later years with the department, he worked as a planning and fire prevention officer and was known for his fire safety work with children.

Frank passed on his two loves to his 12 children, most of whom are teachers or firefighters or both, said his third son, Clifford, a Holbrook Fire Department ex-captain and Nassau police officer. He also persuaded the county police department to make a few days at the fire academy part of standard training for its recruits.

Honoring his activity on behalf of the Nassau County Firefighters Museum, to be built next door to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, the structure will be named after Frank.

Frank also was active in raising funds for the Burn Center at Nassau University Medical Center since being treated there for 11 days in 1978. He was a Retired Nassau County Fire Marshall and Nassau County Fire Service Academy Instructor, Member of the American Legion Post 86, NYS Fraternal Order of Police, International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs, International Assoc. of Arson Investigators, International Assoc. of Firefighters, Firefighters Assoc. of the State of NY, Fire Museum Network, LI Antique Fire Apparatus Assoc., Delegate to the Nassau County Burn Center, Member of the Bethpage Historical Society, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Civil War Preservation Trust, the Mount Rushmore Foundation and the Ellis Island Foundation. He also organized the Bethpage Fire Department 1976 Bicentennial Parade. After retiring in 1990, he worked part-time for the Bethpage fire district. Frank received honors from his fire department last month for 50 years of active service.

More than 1,000 friends and many antique fire vehicles gathered Monday evening for a firematic memorial service opposite Bethpage fire headquarters. The funeral Mass was said Tuesday at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church. Burial was in Pinelawn Memorial Park.

Frank is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Jane; sons Thomas of Bethpage, Douglas and wife Carol North Patchogue, Richard of St. Louis, Stephen and wife Eileen of Cromwell, Conn., Peter and wife Mary of Allegany, and Kurt and wife Amy of Salisbury Mills. He is also survived by daughters Patricia of Branford, Conn., Mary Jane Trigilio and husband Bob of Evergreen, Colo., Priscilla Mcdowell and husband Ken and Pamela Hearn and husband Gary, both of Washingtonville, and Alison Griffith and husband Jeff of Westwood, N.J.; Cherished son-in-law of Jane Thompson. Dedicated brother in law of Nancy Thompson, loving brother of A. 'Tommy' Pendl of Venice, Fla.: and Helen Pendl, wife of his predeceased brother, Joseph Francis Pendl, and by 22 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Francis X. Pendl Education Memorial Fund, PO Box 63, Bethpage, NY 11714. (FROM BETHPAGE TRIBUNE - 4/23-29, 2004)

PEOPLE

At its inception in December 1973 it was called B.A.D.A.(Bethpage Against Drug Addiction).  In 1974 it became known as PEOPLE because it provided counseling services to the youth of the community and included areas outside of Bethpage. PEOPLE can be reached on the web at: http://www.bethpagecommunity.com/People/

Picinic, Kathleen

Citizen Advisory Committee for the school budget. Graduate of Westbury High School and Brown Business School. Attended SUNY at Farmingdale. Employed by Grumman and a member of The Board of Education. (Bethpage History by Rosalie Niemczyk)

Pickle Industry (see Feuchsel)

There were three krautworks (pickle factories) in Central Park. Schneider's and Feuchsal's were located by the Long Island Rail Road Tracks south of Nibbe Lane. Osios Karp's was located across from Charles Campagne School.

Pine Lodge

339 Broadway, Bethpage

Pine Lodge went from Annie's Place to Whoville.

Plainedge

A one square mile unincorporated area in the Town of Oyster Bay. Its 1990 population was 8,739. Most residents have Bethpage ZIP codes, but some have addresses in Massapequa, Seaford and Farmingdale.

Plainview

A five square mile unincorporated area in Nassau County. In 1990, Plainview had a population of 26,207.

Police Athletic League (PAL)

Political Districts

District Representative Term
Nassau County Legislator Edward P. Mangano (R)  
     
3 CD Congressman Peter King (R) 1992-
3 CD Congressman Norman Frederick Lent (3/23/31) (R) 1971-1992
3 CD Congressman Lester Wolff (1/4/19) (D) 1966-1971
3 CD Congressman Steven B. Derounian (R) 1962-1966
3 CD Congressman Frank J. Becker 1956-1962
     
5 SD Senator Carl Marcellino  
     

Polo Field

(Central Park Hunt Club)

Population Statistics

Year Number of people
1990 15,761 - Census
1980 16,846 - Census
1970 18,550 - Census
1960 15,840 - Census
1950 NA
1940 2,590 -- Listed as Central Park (from L.I. Regional Planning)
1930 1,888 -- Listed as Central Park (from L.I. Regional Planning)
1920  
1909 530
1903 306

Podsiadlo, Joseph and Agatha

Farmed on Haypath Road. Had 14 children, 7 boys and 7 girls. Son John Podsiadlo (oldest) lived on 6th Street (now Ellen Street) before moving to Farmingdale in l947. (The Podsiadlo and Niemczyk families were related.)

Poppe, Joan

Nassau County Legislator Edward Mangano selected Joan Poppe as the 2001 "Trailblazer of the New Millennium" based on her many years of dedicated service to our veterans. Joan has been an active member of the Women's Auxiliary of American Legion Archie McCord Post 86 for 48 years. During that time she served as president for eight years and chaired numerous committees including the "Poppie" committee. (The poppy representing the poppies that blossomed on the battlefields after World War I.)

Joan interesting and moving articles regarding our Veterans are published in The Tribune, our local newspaper.

Post Office

(See Bethpage Post Office)

Powell Avenue School

(See Bethpage School Distric #21)

Powell Cemetery

(See Cemeteries)

Powell, Thomas

Great Grandson of Thos. Powell I. b. 1762, d. 1835, married? Children: Thomas - married Elizabeth Stymus, Joshua, James(b. 1790, d.1881) married Jane Covert (b.1791, d. 1879); John and others. Joshua Powell, b. 1790, d. 1861. (were he and James twins? - or both roughly 11 months apart?) Married Elizabeth Covert (b. 5/13/1813 d. 7/2/1881) - married John Jarvis (b. 9/3/1810 - d. 4/11/1893); Letty - married William Jarvis; Ruth - married James Van Sise and others. John Powell, b. 1796, d. 1887. Married First, Catherine _______, b. 1797, d. 18-- married, second Sarah, b. 1818, d.? Children: Ebert, b. 1835 d. 1/16/1909; Sarah Ann, b. 1847, d. 2/15/1901 - married George Powell (1824 - 1904) ; Charles (1829 - 1860) Thomas Underhill Powell (1843 - 1902) was the son of Richard S. and Sarah Underhill Powell of Old Bethpage. He married Hanah Anne Ketcham (1845 - 1901) Thomas U. was descended as follows: Thomas (1), Thomas (2), Joshua, Benjamin, Richard. Elbert, Sarah Ann, Charles, George, Thomas U. and Hannah Anne Powell Powell are buried in the cemetery on Quaker Meeting House Road in Old Bethpage/Farmingdale area. John, Catherine, Thomas, James, Jane and several other Powells are buried in the cemetery within the Grumman Aerospace Corps' property. Joshua and Elizabeth are buried in Plainedge Methodist Church Cemetery, Hicksville Road and Central Avenue, Bethpage. By

Rosalie Walsh Niemczyk

Procida, Frank

Frank Procida was born in Sicily, Italy and had to serve two years in the Italian Army before he came to America. In 1920 he left Naples, Italy and arrived in Philadelphia being sponsored by his sister who was living in Central Park, New York.

Frank's first job as a barber was in Hicksville where he worked for Joe Alvin for 2 years. Time to move on, and he opened his first barber shop in Amityville. His stay in Amityville was shortened to three years because of progress and the expansion of the movie theater.

This move brought Frank, in 1927, to Central Park where he opened The Sanitary Barber Shop. The name, Sanitary Barber Shop, was a name suggested by Mr. Cava who had just opened the Drug Store next to his store. Mr. Cava explained, it seems at the time everyone was aware of germs and personal hygiene and he suggested the name and Frank agreed. even thought it was custom to use your name for your store, The Sanitary Barber Shop got its name and beginning.

Frank worked seven days a week closing at 1 PM on Sunday so he could pursue his favorite pastime Boccie Ball! A game that was played with friends with much enthusiasm at the Falco and Campagne property.

On December 16, 1928 Frank married Margaret Noto in St. Steven's Church in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. They had five children, Jenny, Gaspar, Albert, Antonette and Frank, and they made their home over the barber shop for 26 years. There were tough times, expecially during the depression when the community of Central Park used the Barter System to pay for their haircut and shave. They accepted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and fruits for payment. They also raised chickens in their yard for eggs and meat to sustain the family. The family later moved in the Rockhill House on Ellen Street, Bethpage.

When Gasper (Cas) and Albert (Al) came of age they followed in their fathers footsteps and went to work in the shop. Cas went to Barber School at 16 years of age and got his license in 1948. Sadly, only after working with his father for one year, his father died of kidney disease and cancer in 1949. That same year Al went to Barber School and worked in Mineola during his training. Al then joined the Army and spent two years in Korea. When Al returned home, after his military obligation, he rejoined Cas. They worked together for many years and were quite a team! Unfortunately, Al passed away on September 28, 1995.

Pudgies

Purcell's Bar & Grill

R. A. (Pete) Purcell, Prop. - Broadway & Washington St.

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Q

Quakers

Thomas Chalkley and John Woolman, visiting Quaker preacher, came to the homes of Thomas Powell and the settlers along the Massatayun River (now Route 135.)

Quaremba, Ed

Concerned citizen and community activist. (See Newsday, July 29, 2001.)

Quinn, Mary

Retired educator after 51 years of dedicated service to the children of Bethpage. 1949 Miss Quinn was hired by School Superintendent Dr. Victor Miller to teach 3rd grade in Powell Ave. School. She also taught 5th grade in Pine Ave. School. Miss Quinn was appointed to serve as the school's assistant principal , recommended by Pine Ave. elementry school principal Dr. Ann Rockhill. She later served as principal of the Powell Ave. School, then the Broadway Elementary School (in 2001 known as the J.F.K. Middle School). When Charles Campaign Elementary School opened its doors in 1959, Miss Quinn was the choice to head the school. She was the only principal the school has known till the new school year in the fall of 2001.

Miss Quinn retired knowing the impact she had on the children she guided over the years, the encouragement she gave to the parents and her support to the PTA.

Source: The Bethpage Tribune August 31 - September 6, 2001

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R

Railroad Electrification

The third rail activated at 12:10 A.M., Saturday, April 25, 1987.

Ratto, Leonard

FROM THE BETHPAGE TRIBUNE (11/17-11/23, 2006, p. 17)

Formerly of Bethpage, passed away September 29, 2006. Served in World War II and member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Worked for Republic Aviation Corp. many years.

Renker, Elizabeth

A Herman Melville scholar who grew up in Bethpage. Her titles include Strike Through the Mask: Herman Melville and the Scene of Writing.

Republican Club

The first meeting convened on June 14, 1920 with Richard Russell as the first president. Its present clubhouse was sold in 1949 to the American Legion, but the Republican Club continues to hold a 50-year Lease that guarantees use of the room twelve times a year. The club began gaining momentum in the early 1950's when new homeowners turned toward the club to resolve problems regarding town services.

Rim of the Woods Purchase

In 1699 Thomas Powell purchased all the land in the northern section of the present Plainedge (Boundary Ave. north to Old Motor Parkway and Hicksville Road east to Cedar Drive). This includes part of Bethpage. From HARKING BACK

Risolo Fuel Company

Esso heating oil, 1010 Stewart Avenue

Rita's Beauty Shop

Located on Central Ave. and run by Rita Weber Young and Marie Weber. (Evelyn Keuchler Auer)

Roadways

Roadway Time Period
South Oyster Bay Expressway 1961
Stewart Ave - South Oyster Bay Road to Central Ave. 1965-1967
Central Ave to Boundary Ave. 1966-1967
Central Ave- Stewart Rte 135. 1969-1971
Cherry Ave - Stewart to Plainview Road. 1966-1967

Robert Plan Insurance

Robinson Homestead

Stood at the Southeast Corner of Broadway (Plainview Road) and Haypath Lane. The above photo was taken April 5, 1918 and the home was completely destroyed by fire 12 days later on April 17, 1918.

Robinson, Jeremiah Weaver (J. W.)

Jeremiah, born 9/30/1881, the son of a tinsmith a trade he learned. He went to school in a little red school house in Central Park on Broadway (the location today of the Gifford home at 593 Broadway).

Jeremiah Robinson, country squire, who was a well-known sand and gravel pit operator in Nassau County. Some of his construction jobs included the paving of the main streets of Farmingdale and Oyster Bay, and he also supplied material for the building of the Nassau County Tuberculosis Hospital in Farmingdale. Jeremiah also enjoyed riding and jumping his saddle horses, and to hunt and fish in the fields and shores of Long Island. He was a member of the Matatuck Gun Club. His home was a large estate on Broadway (now Plainview Road) and Hay Path Lane (now Haypath Road) where he lived with his wife, the former Jenny Underhill (whom he married in 1907 at the age of 24), and his three sons. His sons, Alex, born 5/28/1912, and Shaw, born 3/24/1909, were prominent polo players on Long Island and New Jersey and they had a string of seven polo ponies. Lewis, born 11/24/1916, the youngest son, graduated from Colgate University and with his two brothers worked for their father, and had their own home on the Robinson estate.

(Information from the NASSAU DAILY REVIEW STAR - 1941 BY David W. Beauchamp)

Rockhill, Anna

Rogers Nursery

Romscho, Charles Sr.

Rosalie Sportswear

348 Broadway Dresses, skirts, co-ordinates, blouses and Lingerie around 1957. ("If my lady wants it - Rosalie has it')

Rosie the Riveters

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation hired 8000 women to work in its factories during World War II. They did more than rivet, they were assemblers, inspectors, testers, etc. They assisted in the building of Wildcats, Hellcats, Avengers and amphibians for the Navy.

When the war ended on VJ Day, in August 1945, all the women were laid off.

Bethpage women who were in this program were: Margaret Cava Carvo, Edith
Nicholson, Dorothy Nelson Rabas, and Ethel Nelson Surprise.

Roulston, Thomas

Round Swamp Road

Begins at the Bethpage State Park's southern side and runs north to the Long Island Expressway, and ends in Suffolk County at Jericho Turnpike in West Hills. It was named for the swamp on Huntington's western boundary by settlers and Messtopass, meaning "a filthy pool of water" by the Native Americans.

Source: Newsday 9/28/01 Names on Long Island

Rozzi, Samuel, J

Samuel was born and raised in Central Park one of 10 children. As a young boy he developed exceptional baseball skills and he went on to play semi-pro ball. He tried out to play for the Boston Red Sox.

On March 8, 1948 he was sworn in as a patrolman in the Nassau County Police Dept. He rose through the ranks to commissioner in 1978, and he was appointed to this position by County Executive, Fran Purcell. Sam was considered to be an extremely good man, very quiet, very humble, and he got a lot done without a lot of fan fare.

He introduced a wide variety of new police techniques, modernizing the department and building and was considered, by law enforcement experts, as one of the top 10 suburban forces in the nation. Among the technological advances he brought to Nassau County was the nations first DNA crime-testing lab, a computerized finger printing and photo identification system, a mounted and a canine unit, and a special unit to investigate bias crimes. He is further credited with improving the effectiveness of the Aviation Bureau bringing it to a twenty four hour status with advanced anti crime and medical response capability.

He encouraged several model youth related programs such as PRIDE (Peer Resistance Instruction and Drug Education), PAVE (Police Anti-Vandalism Education), and STOP (Students and Teachers Opposed to Prejudice). He also supported the creation of an Explorer Post for teenagers who aspire to career in policing. Sam was active in introducing strategies regarding drunk driving complete with special DWI patrols. In response to crimes motivated by prejudice and hate he established a Bias Incident Investigation Program. He is responsible for a joint venture with the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration in the adoption of the Drug Recognition Expert Project.

During his administration he responded to the need for strong Police-Community relationship by establishing and maintaining dialogue with various segments of the minority population. He also established the unique Police-Educators Symposium and Police-Media Seminars.

Samuel Rozzi's academic credentials, which were earned while attending evening classes, include an Associate of Arts Degree from Nassau Community College, a Bachelor of art degree from Hofstra, and a Master Degree from Long Island University. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Executive Institute and the Executive Development Program of the Washington D. C. based Police Foundation. This background combined with his extensive management experience qualified him to serve as a member of the adjunct facility at Nassau Community College and Long Island University. His commitment to education goes beyond himself. He instituted Executive Training Programs in cooperation with the Adelphi University Graduate School of Business to provide advanced instruction to all members of the department above the rank of lieutenant.

Externally he routinely assigned personnel from the Legal Bureau, Police Academy, and other commands to provide seminars and conferences when requested by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. His professional affiliations included membership in the nations major city Chiefs Association, the International Associations of Chief of Police, New York State Chief of Police, the Rotary Club, Hofstra University Club, past president of the Long Island Chapter of the American Academy for Professional Law Enforcement.

Sam married Evelyn Jones, a school teacher, and they had three children Lynn, Samuel and Dave. Upon the death of Evelyn, he married Santa in 1982 and they moved to Oyster Bay. At this time Santa was completing her law degree at St. John's University. Born: January 22, 1925 - Died: July 30, 1992.

Information from the BETHPAGE TRIBUNE and NEWSDAY.

Rozzi, Thomas

Mr. Rozzi, vice President of Grumman and was in charge of the Grumman Security. In 1948, he ran for the Bethpage school board. At this time, he was a 30 year resident of Bethpage and graduated from the Bethpage School. He participated in many local sport activites and holds the honor of being the only Bethpagite ever to be chosen for the New York State Golden Gloves boxing tournament. Married to Ruth and the father of four children.

Source: Bethpage Newsgram 1/29/48

G. Thomas Rozzie was born in Long Island City, New York, on September 28, 1913. He began his career at the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation in 1940. During World War II he was first a member of the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve but later transferred to the U. S. Naval Reserves.

Mr. Rozzi advanced regularly through the ranks of the company guard organization and was promoted to Supervisor of Plant Protection in 1945. He held that position until 1958 when he was named Corporate Director of Security and given the additional responsibility for the Employee Service Office (ESO). While still serving as Director of Security and ESO, Mr. Rozzi was appointed Assistant to the President of the Corporation in 1967. The following year, his duties were again expanded when he was placed in charge of all Personnel Services, which added responsibility for the Transportation, Food Services, Personnel, and Field Administration and Liaison Departments.

In recognition of Mr. Rozzi’s important contributions to Grumman employee and industrial relations over many years, the Board of Directors of Grumman Aerospace Corporation elected him a vice president on October 7, 1969. He functions as Director of Security and Personnel Services.

Under Mr. Rozzi’s leadership, the U. S. Department of Defense has awarded commendations to Grumman six times for corporate security measures. The Defense Department’s Bureau of Naval Weapons has also acknowledged Grumman’s outstanding security performance as has the New York State Civil Defense Commission.

While at Grumman, Mr. Rozzi has studied industrial management at the State University of New York at Farmingdale and also at the New York University School of Business. He has been a member of the Nassau County Manpower Advisory Council where he served on its Placement Subcommittee. He has served as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Grumman Political Action Committee since 1977. He also served on the Suffolk County Classification and Salary Appeals Board and the Nassau County College Local Advisory Council for Occupational Education.

Mr. Rozzi is a past member of the Industrial Security Committee and is currently serving on the Industrial Relations Committee of the Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA) and of the Industrial Security Committee of the National Security Industrial Association. He is cofounder of the Long Island Chapter of the American Society of Industrial Security. Mr. Rozzi has been active in Boy Scouting, and he is a former Commissioner of Youth Recreation of the Smithtown Recreation Center and a former member of the Bethpage School Board. Mr. Rozzi is a recipient of the Good Citizenship Award of the Long Island Parkway Police. He currently serves with the panel of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Rozzi and his wife, the former Ruth Knudsen of Bethpage, reside in Smithtown, New York. They are the parents of five children: Samuel Thomas, Thomas, Pamela Joan, Mrs. Norman L. Law, and Mrs. Jeffrey Smith. (Grumman Executive Biography, October 1978)

Russo Department Store

267 Broadway Bethpage - Men's, Ladies & Children's wear G.E.D. & Festante props. - 1957 Broadway about 1949.

Russo, Marius

Was born July 19, l914 in Brooklyn . Played for the Yankees; debut was June 6, 1939. . Was particularly effective in the World Series in l941 when he matched elderly Dodger Freddie Fitzsimmons through seven scoreless innings. Played 1939 - 43, 1946.

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