After much planning by the Village of Mineola and the Chamber of Commerce, John Davanzo and I were both honored. I am deeply grateful to Mayor Scott Strauss who orchestrated the celebration and to Senator Jack Martins who attended and spoke about John. There will be a metal plaque for both of us—one for John and one for me at the entrance of the Mineola Village Hall.
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John Davanzo truly earned the title of Mr. Mineola from the time he was a war hero, a star quarterback for the Hofstra football team, village trustee and later town clerk of North Hempstead, a position he held for many years. At the age when most people are looking forward to retirement, John came to the village and asked for a job as the official greeter at the Village Hall. He sat every day of the week at the entrance of the Village Hall and guided people to their destinations inside the building. John would accept no salary. At the event at the Village Hall, two of his daughters, Mary and Judy Davanzo spoke about their love of their father.
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Later, I was honored at the event by George Maragos, the comptroller for Nassau County, and by Steve Ford. Also present were Chamber former president Bill Greene, president Tony Lubrano, Ray Sikorski, Joyce Gorycki, Rich Forestano, Paul Pereira, Paul Cusato, John Hajeka, Gabe Parajos, Gary Katz, Joy Wyler, Bob Rosenthal, Robbin Valentine, Joe Scalero, George Durham, Dennis Walsh, Bill Haveron, Terence Timlin, Linda Doerrbecker, Joel Harris, and others. My wife, Grace, who I have been married to luckily for 67 years, and our daughter, Sister Annmarie (director of communications for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious), our son, Richard (former executive editor of both People magazine and Entertainment Weekly), and his wife, Laurie. Also present were our son, Thomas (comptroller of the Mellon Foundation), his wife, Debbie, and our oldest granddaughter, Tracey. Tracey is a teacher, specializing in early childhood education, who works with three-year olds at a school in Manhattan. Also present were Judge Scott Fairgrieve and Larry Monachelli, from Eleanor Rigby’s. Not present but calling me to wish me well was Peter Gollobin. It was a wonderful affair and Grace and I thank everyone.
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Carl and Rosemary Marchese were featured in Newsday as the Italian-American couple of the year. Carl is active in the Italian-American Association, and is past commander of the American Legion. He is a CPA and was the treasurer of our recent centennial celebration of the village.
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Winthrop-University Hospital, we understand, will take over the building on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Mineola Boulevard—the one where the Mustang once stood.
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Marge Hagerty of Latham Road has joined the Golden Age Club. She called me up because she was so excited about the Mets when they made the World Series. She is an avid fan.
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Jim Agnew of Garfield Avenue visited with his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Nora Agnew, and his sister and brother-in-law, Bridget and Eamon McGinniss. The party did not come to Mineola but spent their whole time in Spring Lake and Cape May, New Jersey.
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The public will be sorry to hear that one of the most professional police officers of the Third Precinct, Jim Dougherty, is retiring. He will be missed by all the other officers, Sean Coffee and the rest, as well as by former Third Squad commander Sean McCarthy.
Editors Note: Lou Sanders, who has his journalism degree from NYU, and his wife, Grace, a graduate of Adelphi, founded the Mineola American in 1952, giving the village its first successful newspaper. Lou and Grace have lived in Mineola for 60 years, and his popular column is a signature feature of this paper.
