From Newsday 6/25/06:
Vincent A. Suozzi wasn't only a well-known Long Island political figure. He was so much like family that the people of Glen Cove, his hometown, who elected him their mayor five times, knew him as "Uncle Jimmy."
Suozzi, who was Glen Cove's mayor from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1987, died early yesterday at North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove after he developed acute leukemia last week from a relapsed blood disorder, said his son, Ralph Suozzi, the city's mayor. He was 80.
"He was really a son of the community," Ralph Suozzi said.
Jimmy Suozzi was of the older generation of Suozzis elected mayor of the North Shore city.
He and his brother, Joseph, both served in the office. Joseph's son, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, preceded Ralph Suozzi as mayor.
Born on Jan. 17, 1926, in Harlem to Rosa and Michele Suozzi, Jimmy Suozzi was 2 when his family moved to Glen Cove. He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy in 1945 at the end of World War II.
In 1946, he attended St. John's University, majoring in accounting. Commuting to school on the Long Island Rail Road, he met his future wife, Theresa Cioffi. They married in October 1950 and had seven children.
Suozzi, a Democrat, first dipped into politics in 1964, when he made an unsuccessful bid for state Assembly. Shortly after, he became deputy treasurer to then-Nassau County Executive Eugene Nickerson.
He was appointed mayor in 1973 to fill out the term of Andrew J. DiPaola, who had been elected a State Supreme Court justice, and subsequently elected five times, each time to a two-year term. He was also appointed Glen Cove's city comptroller, serving from 2001 to 2004.
During his mayoralty, Suozzi formed the Glen Cove Emergency Medical Services and the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center, and helped the local Boys and Girls Club. The club planned to honor Suozzi at a July 31 golf outing.
"Everybody was family to him," Ralph Suozzi said. "I wouldn't be who I am without him. I wouldn't be the father, the son or the mayor I hope to be."
In addition to Ralph and his wife, Suozzi is survived by three other sons and three daughters: Roseanne Suozzi-Loviglio, Teresa Stroppel, Mike Suozzi and Vincent Suozzi, all of Glen Cove, Mary Louise Amilicia of East Meadow and James Suozzi of Forest Hills; and nine grandchildren.
Burial in Locust Valley Cemetery. ∼By Carla Santella
How does one summarize in words the life of a man who was, in all senses of the words, so much larger than life itself? With the passing of Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi at age 80, on Saturday, June 24, from a hard-fought battle with leukemia, an irreplaceable piece of Glen Cove's history and heart was torn from the city. He was a man of family, church, community and government, and somehow managed to give his all to each.
First of all, there was that name. Everyone in Glen Cove, regardless of age, knows to whom you are referring when you speak of "Uncle Jimmy." The uncle part makes more sense than the Jimmy part. The man was family to everyone, whether he saw you every day, or only ran into you at the St. Rocco's Feast. As for the Jimmy, there aren't many who can give you an explanation as to why so many Italians named Vincent are called Jimmy. In fact, in his inaugural address, Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi, son of the late icon, commenting on the Suozzi family political history, said, "My father, Vincent A. Suozzi, often referred to as Jimmy...please don't ask why..."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi, January 17, 1926 - June 24, 2006
Then there was that physical presence. When he walked into room, all attention would just gravitate to him. An imposing man with a gregarious and expansive nature, Jimmy had a handshake, a hug, a kiss for everyone. His smile was known to lift spirits and make a person feel that running into him or her was the high point of the man's day.
Jimmy Suozzi's parents, Michele and Rosa, moved to Glen Cove in 1928. While attending college at St. John's University, he commuted via the Long Island Rail Road. Many people have many complaints about the LIRR, but for Jimmy, the trip was heaven sent. It was on the railroad that he met a lovely young woman named Theresa Cioffi in 1946. Four years later, the couple married and remained married 'til death did them part. They raised seven children: Ralph, Roseanne, Teresa, Michael, Vincent, Mary Louise and James. Those children have given Jimmy and Terry nine grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jimmy's family was always devoted to and supportive of the papa famiglia, and shared him generously and willingly with the city he so loved.
One of the first altar boys at St. Rocco's, Mayor Suozzi remained dedicated to the church all his life, and for a very long time was chairman of the church's annual Best Feast in the East. His title may have been chairman, but it was not unusual to find him in an apron serving up meatballs and spaghetti or cleaning off tables. The City of Glen Cove and the city of Sturno, Italy, the ancestral (and often more recent) home of many a Glen Cover, developed the relationship of "sister cities" during the Vincent Suozzi administration and the relationship still exists.
Often called "the real Mayor of Glen Cove" regardless of who was actually in office, in reality, Mayor Suozzi served from 1973, when he was appointed to fill out the term of Andrew DiPaola, who had been elected to the State Supreme Court, through 1979 and again from 1984 through 1987, being elected five times. In three consecutive elections, the candidate won every district in the city. He also served as city controller from 2001 to 2004, during Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp's administration.
Mayor Suozzi's administration produced at least as many babies as did his marriage. Glen Cove EMS, the Beautification Commission, the Senior Center and the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club have Jimmy to thank for their existence. He was the city's first golf commissioner. Glen Cove's initial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is still one of the largest and oldest on Long Island, was held during his administration, as Mayor Suozzi walked with James Davis by his side. He has been the Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year as well as honoree of the PTA Council Scholarship Dinner. He has been honored by EMS and Beautification, and the Boys & Girls Club.
Jimmy Suozzi fought long and hard to have the Coles School saved from demolition and retained as an educational institution after it was closed as a city school in the early 1990s. File upon file was sought out, read, annotated and sorted, until finally, in a "Eureka!" moment, he found the original document proclaiming the building was deeded to the city to be used in perpetuity as a school. While it was closed as a public school, the historic building stands today and currently houses the Solomon Schecter Day School.
Even the Russian diplomats who were housed at the Killenworth Estate in the early 1980s could thank Jimmy for their fun in the sun on Glen Cove beaches when, after his return to office in 1984, he lifted the ban prohibiting beach use imposed by his predecessor, Alan Parente, who believed the Russians were using the estate for electronic spying on Long Island's arms industry. Mayor Suozzi stated his belief that the Russians had ''indicated in word and deed that they want to be good neighbors.'' Glen Cove is also home to a replica of Sputnik, presented to Long Island by the Russian government and refused by numerous Nassau County politicians. Jimmy Suozzi brought it to his hometown.
The downtown parking garages were another project of Jimmy Suozzi, one which is believed to have cost him the election of 1979. He lost that election by just over 100 votes. At the city council meeting of June 27, City Councilman Joe Gioino remarked about Jimmy's foresight, and said he could not imagine the downtown today without the garages.
Mayor Suozzi always called himself a public servant, not a politician. His beliefs and actions encompassed all sides of the political aisle. He was a friend to the community at large, and to each citizen in particular. If someone needed help, he was there. His friendship was loyal, his manner straightforward. One always knew where one stood with the man. More than one person remarked upon the fact that when they first moved to town and ran into the mayor at a function, or just on the street, he would say, "You must be new in town...I don't know you." Introductions would follow, and upon the next meeting, Jimmy would not just remember the new citizen's name, he'd also ask about children, or in-laws, or how the new job was working out.
Mayor Ralph Suozzi has said of his father, "He represented more than anyone what our community was, is, and can be again. He was in politics because of the man he was; he was not the man he was because of politics." He garnered the respect of all he met. Residents of Glen Cove, whether they were living here during the Vincent Suozzi administration, knew him intimately, met him casually, or interacted with him professionally, echoed similar sentiments when asked about the man. "He was always on the side of the people. He did so much for Glen Cove. He always treated me like family." One resident told Mayor Ralph Suozzi, "You guys hit the father lottery."
For the two days of Jimmy Suozzi's wake, there was always a line outside McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home as innumerable friends and family members paid their last respects. A funeral Mass was held at St. Rocco's Church on Wednesday, June 28. Former Glen Cove mayors who were in attendance included the Hon. Mary Ann Holzkamp, the Hon. Thomas R. Suozzi, the Hon. Joseph Suozzi, the Hon. Donald DeRiggi, the Hon. Andrew DiPaola, the Hon. Alan Parente, the Hon. Joseph Reilly and the Hon. Joseph Muldoon. More than 600 people filled St. Rocco's Church. Honor guards and representatives of the Glen Cove Police Department, Fire Department, Auxiliary Police and EMS were on hand. Moving tributes were offered by Jimmy's children and grandchildren, including a personalized rendition of the Bob Hope classic tune Thanks for the Memory sung by daughter Terry Stroppel. Mayor Ralph Suozzi said of his father, "He was one of a kind and the world is a little different now, but we will carry on with what he gave us and left inside of us."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi was buried in Locust Valley Cemetery. Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy.
Vincent A. Suozzi wasn't only a well-known Long Island political figure. He was so much like family that the people of Glen Cove, his hometown, who elected him their mayor five times, knew him as "Uncle Jimmy."
Suozzi, who was Glen Cove's mayor from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1987, died early yesterday at North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove after he developed acute leukemia last week from a relapsed blood disorder, said his son, Ralph Suozzi, the city's mayor. He was 80.
"He was really a son of the community," Ralph Suozzi said.
Jimmy Suozzi was of the older generation of Suozzis elected mayor of the North Shore city.
He and his brother, Joseph, both served in the office. Joseph's son, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, preceded Ralph Suozzi as mayor.
Born on Jan. 17, 1926, in Harlem to Rosa and Michele Suozzi, Jimmy Suozzi was 2 when his family moved to Glen Cove. He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy in 1945 at the end of World War II.
In 1946, he attended St. John's University, majoring in accounting. Commuting to school on the Long Island Rail Road, he met his future wife, Theresa Cioffi. They married in October 1950 and had seven children.
Suozzi, a Democrat, first dipped into politics in 1964, when he made an unsuccessful bid for state Assembly. Shortly after, he became deputy treasurer to then-Nassau County Executive Eugene Nickerson.
He was appointed mayor in 1973 to fill out the term of Andrew J. DiPaola, who had been elected a State Supreme Court justice, and subsequently elected five times, each time to a two-year term. He was also appointed Glen Cove's city comptroller, serving from 2001 to 2004.
During his mayoralty, Suozzi formed the Glen Cove Emergency Medical Services and the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center, and helped the local Boys and Girls Club. The club planned to honor Suozzi at a July 31 golf outing.
"Everybody was family to him," Ralph Suozzi said. "I wouldn't be who I am without him. I wouldn't be the father, the son or the mayor I hope to be."
In addition to Ralph and his wife, Suozzi is survived by three other sons and three daughters: Roseanne Suozzi-Loviglio, Teresa Stroppel, Mike Suozzi and Vincent Suozzi, all of Glen Cove, Mary Louise Amilicia of East Meadow and James Suozzi of Forest Hills; and nine grandchildren.
Burial in Locust Valley Cemetery. ∼By Carla Santella
How does one summarize in words the life of a man who was, in all senses of the words, so much larger than life itself? With the passing of Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi at age 80, on Saturday, June 24, from a hard-fought battle with leukemia, an irreplaceable piece of Glen Cove's history and heart was torn from the city. He was a man of family, church, community and government, and somehow managed to give his all to each.
First of all, there was that name. Everyone in Glen Cove, regardless of age, knows to whom you are referring when you speak of "Uncle Jimmy." The uncle part makes more sense than the Jimmy part. The man was family to everyone, whether he saw you every day, or only ran into you at the St. Rocco's Feast. As for the Jimmy, there aren't many who can give you an explanation as to why so many Italians named Vincent are called Jimmy. In fact, in his inaugural address, Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi, son of the late icon, commenting on the Suozzi family political history, said, "My father, Vincent A. Suozzi, often referred to as Jimmy...please don't ask why..."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi, January 17, 1926 - June 24, 2006
Then there was that physical presence. When he walked into room, all attention would just gravitate to him. An imposing man with a gregarious and expansive nature, Jimmy had a handshake, a hug, a kiss for everyone. His smile was known to lift spirits and make a person feel that running into him or her was the high point of the man's day.
Jimmy Suozzi's parents, Michele and Rosa, moved to Glen Cove in 1928. While attending college at St. John's University, he commuted via the Long Island Rail Road. Many people have many complaints about the LIRR, but for Jimmy, the trip was heaven sent. It was on the railroad that he met a lovely young woman named Theresa Cioffi in 1946. Four years later, the couple married and remained married 'til death did them part. They raised seven children: Ralph, Roseanne, Teresa, Michael, Vincent, Mary Louise and James. Those children have given Jimmy and Terry nine grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jimmy's family was always devoted to and supportive of the papa famiglia, and shared him generously and willingly with the city he so loved.
One of the first altar boys at St. Rocco's, Mayor Suozzi remained dedicated to the church all his life, and for a very long time was chairman of the church's annual Best Feast in the East. His title may have been chairman, but it was not unusual to find him in an apron serving up meatballs and spaghetti or cleaning off tables. The City of Glen Cove and the city of Sturno, Italy, the ancestral (and often more recent) home of many a Glen Cover, developed the relationship of "sister cities" during the Vincent Suozzi administration and the relationship still exists.
Often called "the real Mayor of Glen Cove" regardless of who was actually in office, in reality, Mayor Suozzi served from 1973, when he was appointed to fill out the term of Andrew DiPaola, who had been elected to the State Supreme Court, through 1979 and again from 1984 through 1987, being elected five times. In three consecutive elections, the candidate won every district in the city. He also served as city controller from 2001 to 2004, during Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp's administration.
Mayor Suozzi's administration produced at least as many babies as did his marriage. Glen Cove EMS, the Beautification Commission, the Senior Center and the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club have Jimmy to thank for their existence. He was the city's first golf commissioner. Glen Cove's initial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is still one of the largest and oldest on Long Island, was held during his administration, as Mayor Suozzi walked with James Davis by his side. He has been the Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year as well as honoree of the PTA Council Scholarship Dinner. He has been honored by EMS and Beautification, and the Boys & Girls Club.
Jimmy Suozzi fought long and hard to have the Coles School saved from demolition and retained as an educational institution after it was closed as a city school in the early 1990s. File upon file was sought out, read, annotated and sorted, until finally, in a "Eureka!" moment, he found the original document proclaiming the building was deeded to the city to be used in perpetuity as a school. While it was closed as a public school, the historic building stands today and currently houses the Solomon Schecter Day School.
Even the Russian diplomats who were housed at the Killenworth Estate in the early 1980s could thank Jimmy for their fun in the sun on Glen Cove beaches when, after his return to office in 1984, he lifted the ban prohibiting beach use imposed by his predecessor, Alan Parente, who believed the Russians were using the estate for electronic spying on Long Island's arms industry. Mayor Suozzi stated his belief that the Russians had ''indicated in word and deed that they want to be good neighbors.'' Glen Cove is also home to a replica of Sputnik, presented to Long Island by the Russian government and refused by numerous Nassau County politicians. Jimmy Suozzi brought it to his hometown.
The downtown parking garages were another project of Jimmy Suozzi, one which is believed to have cost him the election of 1979. He lost that election by just over 100 votes. At the city council meeting of June 27, City Councilman Joe Gioino remarked about Jimmy's foresight, and said he could not imagine the downtown today without the garages.
Mayor Suozzi always called himself a public servant, not a politician. His beliefs and actions encompassed all sides of the political aisle. He was a friend to the community at large, and to each citizen in particular. If someone needed help, he was there. His friendship was loyal, his manner straightforward. One always knew where one stood with the man. More than one person remarked upon the fact that when they first moved to town and ran into the mayor at a function, or just on the street, he would say, "You must be new in town...I don't know you." Introductions would follow, and upon the next meeting, Jimmy would not just remember the new citizen's name, he'd also ask about children, or in-laws, or how the new job was working out.
Mayor Ralph Suozzi has said of his father, "He represented more than anyone what our community was, is, and can be again. He was in politics because of the man he was; he was not the man he was because of politics." He garnered the respect of all he met. Residents of Glen Cove, whether they were living here during the Vincent Suozzi administration, knew him intimately, met him casually, or interacted with him professionally, echoed similar sentiments when asked about the man. "He was always on the side of the people. He did so much for Glen Cove. He always treated me like family." One resident told Mayor Ralph Suozzi, "You guys hit the father lottery."
For the two days of Jimmy Suozzi's wake, there was always a line outside McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home as innumerable friends and family members paid their last respects. A funeral Mass was held at St. Rocco's Church on Wednesday, June 28. Former Glen Cove mayors who were in attendance included the Hon. Mary Ann Holzkamp, the Hon. Thomas R. Suozzi, the Hon. Joseph Suozzi, the Hon. Donald DeRiggi, the Hon. Andrew DiPaola, the Hon. Alan Parente, the Hon. Joseph Reilly and the Hon. Joseph Muldoon. More than 600 people filled St. Rocco's Church. Honor guards and representatives of the Glen Cove Police Department, Fire Department, Auxiliary Police and EMS were on hand. Moving tributes were offered by Jimmy's children and grandchildren, including a personalized rendition of the Bob Hope classic tune Thanks for the Memory sung by daughter Terry Stroppel. Mayor Ralph Suozzi said of his father, "He was one of a kind and the world is a little different now, but we will carry on with what he gave us and left inside of us."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi was buried in Locust Valley Cemetery. Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy.
From Newsday 6/25/06:
Vincent A. Suozzi wasn't only a well-known Long Island political figure. He was so much like family that the people of Glen Cove, his hometown, who elected him their mayor five times, knew him as "Uncle Jimmy."
Suozzi, who was Glen Cove's mayor from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1987, died early yesterday at North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove after he developed acute leukemia last week from a relapsed blood disorder, said his son, Ralph Suozzi, the city's mayor. He was 80.
"He was really a son of the community," Ralph Suozzi said.
Jimmy Suozzi was of the older generation of Suozzis elected mayor of the North Shore city.
He and his brother, Joseph, both served in the office. Joseph's son, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, preceded Ralph Suozzi as mayor.
Born on Jan. 17, 1926, in Harlem to Rosa and Michele Suozzi, Jimmy Suozzi was 2 when his family moved to Glen Cove. He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy in 1945 at the end of World War II.
In 1946, he attended St. John's University, majoring in accounting. Commuting to school on the Long Island Rail Road, he met his future wife, Theresa Cioffi. They married in October 1950 and had seven children.
Suozzi, a Democrat, first dipped into politics in 1964, when he made an unsuccessful bid for state Assembly. Shortly after, he became deputy treasurer to then-Nassau County Executive Eugene Nickerson.
He was appointed mayor in 1973 to fill out the term of Andrew J. DiPaola, who had been elected a State Supreme Court justice, and subsequently elected five times, each time to a two-year term. He was also appointed Glen Cove's city comptroller, serving from 2001 to 2004.
During his mayoralty, Suozzi formed the Glen Cove Emergency Medical Services and the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center, and helped the local Boys and Girls Club. The club planned to honor Suozzi at a July 31 golf outing.
"Everybody was family to him," Ralph Suozzi said. "I wouldn't be who I am without him. I wouldn't be the father, the son or the mayor I hope to be."
In addition to Ralph and his wife, Suozzi is survived by three other sons and three daughters: Roseanne Suozzi-Loviglio, Teresa Stroppel, Mike Suozzi and Vincent Suozzi, all of Glen Cove, Mary Louise Amilicia of East Meadow and James Suozzi of Forest Hills; and nine grandchildren.
Burial in Locust Valley Cemetery. ∼By Carla Santella
How does one summarize in words the life of a man who was, in all senses of the words, so much larger than life itself? With the passing of Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi at age 80, on Saturday, June 24, from a hard-fought battle with leukemia, an irreplaceable piece of Glen Cove's history and heart was torn from the city. He was a man of family, church, community and government, and somehow managed to give his all to each.
First of all, there was that name. Everyone in Glen Cove, regardless of age, knows to whom you are referring when you speak of "Uncle Jimmy." The uncle part makes more sense than the Jimmy part. The man was family to everyone, whether he saw you every day, or only ran into you at the St. Rocco's Feast. As for the Jimmy, there aren't many who can give you an explanation as to why so many Italians named Vincent are called Jimmy. In fact, in his inaugural address, Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi, son of the late icon, commenting on the Suozzi family political history, said, "My father, Vincent A. Suozzi, often referred to as Jimmy...please don't ask why..."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi, January 17, 1926 - June 24, 2006
Then there was that physical presence. When he walked into room, all attention would just gravitate to him. An imposing man with a gregarious and expansive nature, Jimmy had a handshake, a hug, a kiss for everyone. His smile was known to lift spirits and make a person feel that running into him or her was the high point of the man's day.
Jimmy Suozzi's parents, Michele and Rosa, moved to Glen Cove in 1928. While attending college at St. John's University, he commuted via the Long Island Rail Road. Many people have many complaints about the LIRR, but for Jimmy, the trip was heaven sent. It was on the railroad that he met a lovely young woman named Theresa Cioffi in 1946. Four years later, the couple married and remained married 'til death did them part. They raised seven children: Ralph, Roseanne, Teresa, Michael, Vincent, Mary Louise and James. Those children have given Jimmy and Terry nine grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jimmy's family was always devoted to and supportive of the papa famiglia, and shared him generously and willingly with the city he so loved.
One of the first altar boys at St. Rocco's, Mayor Suozzi remained dedicated to the church all his life, and for a very long time was chairman of the church's annual Best Feast in the East. His title may have been chairman, but it was not unusual to find him in an apron serving up meatballs and spaghetti or cleaning off tables. The City of Glen Cove and the city of Sturno, Italy, the ancestral (and often more recent) home of many a Glen Cover, developed the relationship of "sister cities" during the Vincent Suozzi administration and the relationship still exists.
Often called "the real Mayor of Glen Cove" regardless of who was actually in office, in reality, Mayor Suozzi served from 1973, when he was appointed to fill out the term of Andrew DiPaola, who had been elected to the State Supreme Court, through 1979 and again from 1984 through 1987, being elected five times. In three consecutive elections, the candidate won every district in the city. He also served as city controller from 2001 to 2004, during Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp's administration.
Mayor Suozzi's administration produced at least as many babies as did his marriage. Glen Cove EMS, the Beautification Commission, the Senior Center and the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club have Jimmy to thank for their existence. He was the city's first golf commissioner. Glen Cove's initial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is still one of the largest and oldest on Long Island, was held during his administration, as Mayor Suozzi walked with James Davis by his side. He has been the Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year as well as honoree of the PTA Council Scholarship Dinner. He has been honored by EMS and Beautification, and the Boys & Girls Club.
Jimmy Suozzi fought long and hard to have the Coles School saved from demolition and retained as an educational institution after it was closed as a city school in the early 1990s. File upon file was sought out, read, annotated and sorted, until finally, in a "Eureka!" moment, he found the original document proclaiming the building was deeded to the city to be used in perpetuity as a school. While it was closed as a public school, the historic building stands today and currently houses the Solomon Schecter Day School.
Even the Russian diplomats who were housed at the Killenworth Estate in the early 1980s could thank Jimmy for their fun in the sun on Glen Cove beaches when, after his return to office in 1984, he lifted the ban prohibiting beach use imposed by his predecessor, Alan Parente, who believed the Russians were using the estate for electronic spying on Long Island's arms industry. Mayor Suozzi stated his belief that the Russians had ''indicated in word and deed that they want to be good neighbors.'' Glen Cove is also home to a replica of Sputnik, presented to Long Island by the Russian government and refused by numerous Nassau County politicians. Jimmy Suozzi brought it to his hometown.
The downtown parking garages were another project of Jimmy Suozzi, one which is believed to have cost him the election of 1979. He lost that election by just over 100 votes. At the city council meeting of June 27, City Councilman Joe Gioino remarked about Jimmy's foresight, and said he could not imagine the downtown today without the garages.
Mayor Suozzi always called himself a public servant, not a politician. His beliefs and actions encompassed all sides of the political aisle. He was a friend to the community at large, and to each citizen in particular. If someone needed help, he was there. His friendship was loyal, his manner straightforward. One always knew where one stood with the man. More than one person remarked upon the fact that when they first moved to town and ran into the mayor at a function, or just on the street, he would say, "You must be new in town...I don't know you." Introductions would follow, and upon the next meeting, Jimmy would not just remember the new citizen's name, he'd also ask about children, or in-laws, or how the new job was working out.
Mayor Ralph Suozzi has said of his father, "He represented more than anyone what our community was, is, and can be again. He was in politics because of the man he was; he was not the man he was because of politics." He garnered the respect of all he met. Residents of Glen Cove, whether they were living here during the Vincent Suozzi administration, knew him intimately, met him casually, or interacted with him professionally, echoed similar sentiments when asked about the man. "He was always on the side of the people. He did so much for Glen Cove. He always treated me like family." One resident told Mayor Ralph Suozzi, "You guys hit the father lottery."
For the two days of Jimmy Suozzi's wake, there was always a line outside McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home as innumerable friends and family members paid their last respects. A funeral Mass was held at St. Rocco's Church on Wednesday, June 28. Former Glen Cove mayors who were in attendance included the Hon. Mary Ann Holzkamp, the Hon. Thomas R. Suozzi, the Hon. Joseph Suozzi, the Hon. Donald DeRiggi, the Hon. Andrew DiPaola, the Hon. Alan Parente, the Hon. Joseph Reilly and the Hon. Joseph Muldoon. More than 600 people filled St. Rocco's Church. Honor guards and representatives of the Glen Cove Police Department, Fire Department, Auxiliary Police and EMS were on hand. Moving tributes were offered by Jimmy's children and grandchildren, including a personalized rendition of the Bob Hope classic tune Thanks for the Memory sung by daughter Terry Stroppel. Mayor Ralph Suozzi said of his father, "He was one of a kind and the world is a little different now, but we will carry on with what he gave us and left inside of us."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi was buried in Locust Valley Cemetery. Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy.
Vincent A. Suozzi wasn't only a well-known Long Island political figure. He was so much like family that the people of Glen Cove, his hometown, who elected him their mayor five times, knew him as "Uncle Jimmy."
Suozzi, who was Glen Cove's mayor from 1973 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1987, died early yesterday at North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove after he developed acute leukemia last week from a relapsed blood disorder, said his son, Ralph Suozzi, the city's mayor. He was 80.
"He was really a son of the community," Ralph Suozzi said.
Jimmy Suozzi was of the older generation of Suozzis elected mayor of the North Shore city.
He and his brother, Joseph, both served in the office. Joseph's son, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, preceded Ralph Suozzi as mayor.
Born on Jan. 17, 1926, in Harlem to Rosa and Michele Suozzi, Jimmy Suozzi was 2 when his family moved to Glen Cove. He was a military policeman in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy in 1945 at the end of World War II.
In 1946, he attended St. John's University, majoring in accounting. Commuting to school on the Long Island Rail Road, he met his future wife, Theresa Cioffi. They married in October 1950 and had seven children.
Suozzi, a Democrat, first dipped into politics in 1964, when he made an unsuccessful bid for state Assembly. Shortly after, he became deputy treasurer to then-Nassau County Executive Eugene Nickerson.
He was appointed mayor in 1973 to fill out the term of Andrew J. DiPaola, who had been elected a State Supreme Court justice, and subsequently elected five times, each time to a two-year term. He was also appointed Glen Cove's city comptroller, serving from 2001 to 2004.
During his mayoralty, Suozzi formed the Glen Cove Emergency Medical Services and the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center, and helped the local Boys and Girls Club. The club planned to honor Suozzi at a July 31 golf outing.
"Everybody was family to him," Ralph Suozzi said. "I wouldn't be who I am without him. I wouldn't be the father, the son or the mayor I hope to be."
In addition to Ralph and his wife, Suozzi is survived by three other sons and three daughters: Roseanne Suozzi-Loviglio, Teresa Stroppel, Mike Suozzi and Vincent Suozzi, all of Glen Cove, Mary Louise Amilicia of East Meadow and James Suozzi of Forest Hills; and nine grandchildren.
Burial in Locust Valley Cemetery. ∼By Carla Santella
How does one summarize in words the life of a man who was, in all senses of the words, so much larger than life itself? With the passing of Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi at age 80, on Saturday, June 24, from a hard-fought battle with leukemia, an irreplaceable piece of Glen Cove's history and heart was torn from the city. He was a man of family, church, community and government, and somehow managed to give his all to each.
First of all, there was that name. Everyone in Glen Cove, regardless of age, knows to whom you are referring when you speak of "Uncle Jimmy." The uncle part makes more sense than the Jimmy part. The man was family to everyone, whether he saw you every day, or only ran into you at the St. Rocco's Feast. As for the Jimmy, there aren't many who can give you an explanation as to why so many Italians named Vincent are called Jimmy. In fact, in his inaugural address, Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi, son of the late icon, commenting on the Suozzi family political history, said, "My father, Vincent A. Suozzi, often referred to as Jimmy...please don't ask why..."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi, January 17, 1926 - June 24, 2006
Then there was that physical presence. When he walked into room, all attention would just gravitate to him. An imposing man with a gregarious and expansive nature, Jimmy had a handshake, a hug, a kiss for everyone. His smile was known to lift spirits and make a person feel that running into him or her was the high point of the man's day.
Jimmy Suozzi's parents, Michele and Rosa, moved to Glen Cove in 1928. While attending college at St. John's University, he commuted via the Long Island Rail Road. Many people have many complaints about the LIRR, but for Jimmy, the trip was heaven sent. It was on the railroad that he met a lovely young woman named Theresa Cioffi in 1946. Four years later, the couple married and remained married 'til death did them part. They raised seven children: Ralph, Roseanne, Teresa, Michael, Vincent, Mary Louise and James. Those children have given Jimmy and Terry nine grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jimmy's family was always devoted to and supportive of the papa famiglia, and shared him generously and willingly with the city he so loved.
One of the first altar boys at St. Rocco's, Mayor Suozzi remained dedicated to the church all his life, and for a very long time was chairman of the church's annual Best Feast in the East. His title may have been chairman, but it was not unusual to find him in an apron serving up meatballs and spaghetti or cleaning off tables. The City of Glen Cove and the city of Sturno, Italy, the ancestral (and often more recent) home of many a Glen Cover, developed the relationship of "sister cities" during the Vincent Suozzi administration and the relationship still exists.
Often called "the real Mayor of Glen Cove" regardless of who was actually in office, in reality, Mayor Suozzi served from 1973, when he was appointed to fill out the term of Andrew DiPaola, who had been elected to the State Supreme Court, through 1979 and again from 1984 through 1987, being elected five times. In three consecutive elections, the candidate won every district in the city. He also served as city controller from 2001 to 2004, during Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp's administration.
Mayor Suozzi's administration produced at least as many babies as did his marriage. Glen Cove EMS, the Beautification Commission, the Senior Center and the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club have Jimmy to thank for their existence. He was the city's first golf commissioner. Glen Cove's initial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is still one of the largest and oldest on Long Island, was held during his administration, as Mayor Suozzi walked with James Davis by his side. He has been the Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year as well as honoree of the PTA Council Scholarship Dinner. He has been honored by EMS and Beautification, and the Boys & Girls Club.
Jimmy Suozzi fought long and hard to have the Coles School saved from demolition and retained as an educational institution after it was closed as a city school in the early 1990s. File upon file was sought out, read, annotated and sorted, until finally, in a "Eureka!" moment, he found the original document proclaiming the building was deeded to the city to be used in perpetuity as a school. While it was closed as a public school, the historic building stands today and currently houses the Solomon Schecter Day School.
Even the Russian diplomats who were housed at the Killenworth Estate in the early 1980s could thank Jimmy for their fun in the sun on Glen Cove beaches when, after his return to office in 1984, he lifted the ban prohibiting beach use imposed by his predecessor, Alan Parente, who believed the Russians were using the estate for electronic spying on Long Island's arms industry. Mayor Suozzi stated his belief that the Russians had ''indicated in word and deed that they want to be good neighbors.'' Glen Cove is also home to a replica of Sputnik, presented to Long Island by the Russian government and refused by numerous Nassau County politicians. Jimmy Suozzi brought it to his hometown.
The downtown parking garages were another project of Jimmy Suozzi, one which is believed to have cost him the election of 1979. He lost that election by just over 100 votes. At the city council meeting of June 27, City Councilman Joe Gioino remarked about Jimmy's foresight, and said he could not imagine the downtown today without the garages.
Mayor Suozzi always called himself a public servant, not a politician. His beliefs and actions encompassed all sides of the political aisle. He was a friend to the community at large, and to each citizen in particular. If someone needed help, he was there. His friendship was loyal, his manner straightforward. One always knew where one stood with the man. More than one person remarked upon the fact that when they first moved to town and ran into the mayor at a function, or just on the street, he would say, "You must be new in town...I don't know you." Introductions would follow, and upon the next meeting, Jimmy would not just remember the new citizen's name, he'd also ask about children, or in-laws, or how the new job was working out.
Mayor Ralph Suozzi has said of his father, "He represented more than anyone what our community was, is, and can be again. He was in politics because of the man he was; he was not the man he was because of politics." He garnered the respect of all he met. Residents of Glen Cove, whether they were living here during the Vincent Suozzi administration, knew him intimately, met him casually, or interacted with him professionally, echoed similar sentiments when asked about the man. "He was always on the side of the people. He did so much for Glen Cove. He always treated me like family." One resident told Mayor Ralph Suozzi, "You guys hit the father lottery."
For the two days of Jimmy Suozzi's wake, there was always a line outside McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home as innumerable friends and family members paid their last respects. A funeral Mass was held at St. Rocco's Church on Wednesday, June 28. Former Glen Cove mayors who were in attendance included the Hon. Mary Ann Holzkamp, the Hon. Thomas R. Suozzi, the Hon. Joseph Suozzi, the Hon. Donald DeRiggi, the Hon. Andrew DiPaola, the Hon. Alan Parente, the Hon. Joseph Reilly and the Hon. Joseph Muldoon. More than 600 people filled St. Rocco's Church. Honor guards and representatives of the Glen Cove Police Department, Fire Department, Auxiliary Police and EMS were on hand. Moving tributes were offered by Jimmy's children and grandchildren, including a personalized rendition of the Bob Hope classic tune Thanks for the Memory sung by daughter Terry Stroppel. Mayor Ralph Suozzi said of his father, "He was one of a kind and the world is a little different now, but we will carry on with what he gave us and left inside of us."
Vincent A. "Jimmy" Suozzi was buried in Locust Valley Cemetery. Rest in peace, Uncle Jimmy.
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