Richard Coppola
New Hyde Park Village Trustee Richard Coppola has announced that he plans to run for re-election to the village board in the upcoming March 15 election. Coppola, who is a 33-year resident of the village, has been a trustee for 12 years.
For the past 26 years Coppola has been the President of All Vehicle Leasing, Inc. at Hempstead Ford Lincoln Mercury. He is a graduate of LaSalle Military Academy in Oakdale and received a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He has been a member of the New Hyde Park Fire Department for the last 29 years and is an ex-chief of Protection Engine Company No. 2 and is currently treasurer of Protection Engine Company.
Coppola is a member of the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, the National Vehicle Leasing Association and Pi Sigma Epsilon, a national professional fraternity in marketing and sales and is a past president of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter.
Further, Coppola is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 2852 plus he is a 3rd Degree member. He is a member of the New Hyde Park Fire Department Exempt Association of the State of New York; member of the Holy Spirit Athletic Association, past CYO basketball coach, Holy Spirit School board past president from 1990 to 1995; member of the Diocesan of Rockville Centre School Board from 1991 to 1994, Superintendents Advisory Council for Elementary Schools (SACFES) from 1992 to 1994 and a Regional School Planning board member from 1990 to 1999.
As a New Hyde Park Village Board Trustee Coppola is the liaison to the LIRR, New Hyde Park Little League, Fire Department, New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Parks Commissioner, Nassau County and auxiliary Police. He is also a past member of the park commission.
Coppola has been involved with the New Hyde Park Little League for the past 20 years and has served as its president, treasurer, clinic director, player agent and vice-president.
Coppola is the father of two sons Richard and Michael, who live in New York City. Coppola and his wife Angela and his two stepdaughters Juliana and Monique are residents of the Village of New Hyde Park.
When asked why he is running for re-election Coppola said, “It is a great pleasure to serve and be involved with the businesses and residences of the Village of New Hyde Park. I enjoy trying to make the village a better place in which to live and work.”
The election is being held at Marcus Christ Hall, on the grounds of New Hyde Park Village Hall corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, on March 15 from noon to 9 p.m.
Robert Lofaro
Robert Lofaro has been a resident of the Village of New Hyde Park for 25 years. He and his wife Susan have two daughters. Both girls graduated from the New Hyde Park Road School with one now attending New Hyde Park Memorial High School and the other at Providence College in Rhode Island.
Lofaro has served as trustee for the village for the past 12 years and has been its Deputy Mayor for the past 10 years. Prior to being elected to Trustee, Lofaro chaired a five person Citizen’s Budget Advisory Board that provided recommendations to the New Hyde Park Village Board on how to streamline expenses and reduce taxes. Many of those recommendations were implemented after he was elected as trustee in 1999.
His full-time profession is in banking where he serves as a Director for Trade and Risk Services for one of the world’s largest financial intuitions and is involved in financing international trade for U.S. Fortune 500 companies.
Further, Lofaro has also been very active in many other community organizations. He has volunteered as a firefighter for the past 32 years, serving as a Line Officer for five years. Additionally, he currently serves on many committees for the volunteer fire service including Budget, Audit, Ways and Means, Sports Committee, and Golf Tournament Chairman.
Local children’s sporting programs have provided Lofaro the opportunity to coach and manage girls softball for the New Hyde Park Little League, act as Division Director and coach for the NHP Wildcats Soccer Club, and as coach of the Girls Basketball Team for Notre Dame CYO.
He is proud of the accomplishments the Village Board has made during his tenure including the completion of several major road improvement projects throughout the village, the beatification and revitalization of the area near the LIRR tracks which included a new train station, new curbing, repaved parking areas, new fencing, and many new planting areas, and the establishment of new laws and codes in order to deter over-development as well as preserve the suburban character of the village.
Lofaro states the greatest challenges the village faces in the near future are significant impacts from the LIRR plan for the main line which includes a third track and separation of the at-grade crossings, the redesign of Jericho Turnpike by New York State, and the increasing costs required to support the daily services to the village residents.
In addition to community activities, which are a large part of Lofaro’s free time, he enjoys supporting his daughters through their academic activity, music programs and sports. He enjoys family vacations and playing ice hockey as well as “pretending” to play golf.
He thanks his wife Susan and his family for their continued support and understanding and is grateful for the many other committed village residents for the roles they perform on various boards and committees that make the Village of New Hyde Park a “great place to live.”
