Mangano Family Foundation Doing Good Show
The Mangano Family Foundation Doing Good Show features engaging guests across the Long Island New York community who are making a positive impact in the community. The show is sponsored by Mangano Family Foundation and Mangano Family Funeral Homes.
Mangano Family Foundation Doing Good Show
Episode 2 - "Doing Good" Radio Show - Featuring Tom Donnelly, Legislator & Retired FDNY
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In episode #2 of the Mangano Family Foundation's "Doing Good" radio show on My Country 96.1 FM, we sit down with Sal Mangano, President of Mangano Family Funeral Homes and Founder of the Mangano Family Foundation, and our guest Tom Donnelly, Suffolk County Legislator & Retired FDNY Lieutenant, to discuss his commitment to public service as an elected official, a 30-year veteran with the City of New York and his volunteerism as a Decorated Member of the Deer Park Fire Department.
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SPEAKER_00Another edition of the Mangano Family Foundation Doing Good Show. We're here with Sal Mangano, president of Mangano Family Funeral Homes and the founder of the Mangano Family Foundation. And our guest is Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, legislator from the 17th District. Sal and Tom, thanks for joining today.
SPEAKER_02Thank you, Anthony. Thank you for having us, Anthony.
SPEAKER_00All right. So let's get let's get right into the legislator. You know, you uh really have uh done an amazing job over your time in government, and we'd love to learn a little bit more about you. So you were elected in 2017 and you're in your fourth term. I know you're seeking re-election this November, and the 17th legislative district in Suffolk County includes Deer Park, Dix Hills, Huntington, Melville, North Babylon, and and parts of South Huntington and North Bayshore. So kind of taking it you know, way back, you're a lifelong resident of Deer Park, graduated Deer Park High School in 1984. Sal, I think, was at Toys R Us during that uh during that time. And then you went on to uh Suffolk County Community College and St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn. And really what's what's what's really you know really interesting about your background as a 30-year veteran with the FDNY and recently retired. Talk a little about your your career in the FDNY.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so um I'd be blessed. I've had a you know pretty wonderful public service career. Um always wanted to be a firefighter uh from a young very young age. My dad was uh retired uh FDNY lieutenant. So uh but I went to college. Um, you know, I earned a degree, uh, associate's degree from Suffolk Community College, and then I earned a bachelor's degree from uh St. Joseph's College in uh Brooklyn, New York. And uh I got to serve in the FDNY for uh 30 years, um, worked in a lot of really wonderful um units, um, did some interesting uh you know fire and rescue work, uh, but always had a passion off to the side for uh local government. Um I've also been a volunteer firefighter for 40 years, and uh back um in the in the early 2000s, I was actually elected as uh one of the commissioners in the Deer Park Fire District, and I did that for 10 years. And around 2006 or so, I was approached uh by then um town supervisor, Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Ballone, about serving on um the planning board. And uh I thought it was an interesting challenge. You got to learn a lot about uh development. Uh you interacted with uh local, local business leaders, local land developers, and uh it was a really, for me, it was a very, very educational um kind of experience. Um I knew the public safety part from uh serving in both in the FDNY and in the Deer Park Fire Department, but seeing the other side on how uh local government you know functioned and and how much it had an impact on residents and communities, um, I really found fascinating. Um so in 2011 or 2010 into 2011, uh there was an opening on the Babylon Town Council, and I was selected uh to run for councilman in Babylon, and I got to serve uh two terms uh as a Babylon town councilman. Again, you know, kind of continuing the the practical uh part of local government, um, where you really interact with residents on every issue from public safety to local infrastructure, quality of life issues, personal issues that families are going through, where you can, you know, try and lend some help and support, um helping folks access different levels of government, whether it's a Medicaid issue, a veterans issue. Um and that's the stuff that I I really enjoy. But I really believe that it's my background as a firefighter that kind of like drove me to that kind of public service, you know, type of mentality that um that I still carry, you know, as a as one of the 18 legislators in Suffolk County.
SPEAKER_00And you know, so you know, your your time, you know, that was you know your public service, you know, is incredible. And and thank you for all your the time that you dedicate to the community. So when you were in the FDNY um, you know, I think first you were NYPD officer to that.
SPEAKER_01Yes, for several years. And uh my dad had a had a really positive influence on me. Um he was a World War II veteran. He believed very much in civil service. Um, so I took the police test first. I was actually 17 years old when I took it, and I went on the police department. Um, I was still 20 years old. Um, and um and I I wound up finishing my bachelor's degree, you know, working as a as a police officer. But uh that my dad got me started. He was very instrumental in saying, um, you know, the first agency that calls you, you know, take it and then you can transfer over.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, and so you then you went into FDNY. You know, most people are running away from fires, and you're running into the buildings. Um so so talk to me a little bit about kind of like what what that's like, right? I mean, the the the training that goes in, and then you see a fire.
SPEAKER_01It's intense.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like what's talk talk to us a little bit about them and walk us through what that experience is like.
SPEAKER_01You know, people see firefighters, and you know, you oftentimes you see them, they're they're happy, they're joking around, they'll be at social events, but this people don't really uh understand unless you actually go through it what it's like to be inside a fire building, um, you know, in a life and death uh situation, and you know, having to put your life in in another firefighter's hands. And the the most important lesson that I learned in my experience in the FDNY is that there's there's no I in the word team, like no letter I in the word team. It's about everybody executing assignments at the same time uh for the preservation of life and property. And like that team mentality is you really, you know, and it's helped me a lot in terms of being a local elected official, too. Um, and I, you know, you like every firefighter, you encounter, you know, a lot of dangerous situations and you always reflect back on those dangerous situations almost as a uh as a learning tool. You know, what can you do better the next time so that you're always in the in the best possible position to help save somebody and help prevent uh the destruction of property and uh the destruction of of of people's belongings and things like that. So it's a being in the FDNY, it's a it's a very high uh intense, high team, um, dangerous um job, but it comes with a significant rewards, you know, not not in terms of you know financial rewards, but in terms of uh self-satisfaction rewards of being able to help uh your fellow citizens. And you know, that's oftentimes the greatest you know reward that you can that you can get.
SPEAKER_00And you were in the FDNY, you know, during you know 9-11. Um can you kind of talk a little bit about that? Because I really want to, you know, we always say like let's never forget, right? I mean, we we we don't ever want to kind of forget the tragedy that happened that day. So I think families are.
SPEAKER_01I'll just walk you through my reflections and it's again, it's one of kind of like in every generation, I think, in our nation's history, there's always a significant event that occurs in a generational period. So for most of my generation, I think 9-11 was that event. Um certainly it changed the the way we live, it changed our country, the world as a whole. Um when you know the forces of evil showed up at our doorstep. And very much like um very much like when when Pearl Harbor was at was attacked, it it mobilized the nation um on everything, not just the military component, which is clearly the most critical, but people helping others, helping their neighbors, doing uh stuff for for victims, for responders, and then uh helping to rebuild the nation. Um so you know, for many folks like me, police, fire, uh EMS, I use this uh kind of metaphor. Um I think it's accurate though. I think it's I think it's an accurate metaphor. You know, when when the forces of evil showed up uh on that sunny Tuesday uh morning in 2001, they were met with the the best of humanity. And um you know, firefighters, police officers, EMS, civilians, they conducted uh this is actually true. This is this is very true, um they conducted the largest uh civilian uh rescue operation not seen uh since the British uh uh had to evacuate um uh from the there's a movie that's based on it when the British civilian boats came over, Dunkirk, I'm sorry, um, since the evacuation of British soldiers in Dunkirk. So 25,000 people were saved uh that morning, but 343 FDMY firefighters, 37 Porta d'Arty police officers, and 23 uh New York City police officers, you know, they would they gave their life at the altar of freedom that morning. And that's the piece that you know we have to that and and the thousands of civilian deaths that you say we can never forget. So I think that's like the message that I always try and give. And um so my girls, I have three daughters, they were all very school-aged. One was in first grade, the other was in third grade. And uh the f the youngest was, I think, in pre-K. So they remember that event. So that that event is kind of like drilled into their head, but it's made them better citizens as well. I really believe that, that it's made them kind of caring. You know, they all my wife is a registered nurse and she was involved in the Girl Scouts uh for many years. They all were Girl Scouts and uh all the right things that we want our society to be is kind of what they are. So, you know, I'm very proud of the work that that they've done. But I think like I think I try to kind of encapsulate or you know, like the feeling that I feel, and I think I speak for a lot of most of my generation that you can you can never forget we all everybody just did their part. Um, and the greatest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor was met by extraordinary bravery and and selfishness and sacrifice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and we're still seeing you know a lot of the the health effects to me is just unbelievable to see what people are going through with different cancers and things like that.
SPEAKER_01It's just it's has swallowed so many people on so many different levels, so many different illnesses, and you know, the mental health part of it, the physical part of it. And you know, that's it's similar to, like I said, you know, I keep equating it a little bit to Pearl Harbor, but it's just one of those events that's gonna be etched in the memory and the consciousness of this country long after we're all gone.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And, you know, so FDNY and also, you know, volunteer in your local community in the fire department, um, Deer Park Fire Department volunteer, captain of engine company too, was fire commissioner for 10 years and still an active volunteer. Um, you know. Talk a little bit about that. And I mean it's just incredible. Like, you know, to go from one, you know, working FDNY and then, you know, on the weekend just sitting there or days off, you know, getting called to fire in the little bit.
SPEAKER_01It's just it's kind of always been embredded in me. It's uh, you know, it's a labor of love uh being a firefighter. But you know, I grew up in Deer Park um, you know, with Sal. Um, you know, it's a small community, a very kind of tight-knit community. But you know, I'm a very proud member. Um, it's a great fire department, wonderful, wonderful people. Sal knows many of them as well. Um, you know, it's been an honor, you know, uh both an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of that department, serve in different ranks. I was a captain, served as fire commissioner, and even in my legislative duties, I still enjoy serving, you know, riding on the ambulance squad, uh, and certainly just chipping in wherever I can to help.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that is uh that's amazing. So, you know, I know you mentioned before about you know a little, you know, how you kind of got into the political world and governmental world, but you know, just just talk about that one more time, right? So you're FDNY, you know, you're you're literally, you know, putting your life on the line to help others. And you know, now you get into the volume in the local community and the world of Suffolk County politics, and kind of talk a little bit about, you know, again, like what drove you to run for office and kind of continue to go from one office to another and you know what what's kind of your calling.
SPEAKER_01So it was kind of like an evolution, I think. Like I always had an interest in in government local, in not so much local government, but in government and um not too much politics, you know, maybe from a historical perspective a little bit. Um But I was very me and my wife were very involved in in the Deer Park community, you know, and as just like Salah's as well. My wife was a Girl Scout leader, she was on the PTA. At the time, I was a fire commissioner and I was coaching soccer, I was helping out on the soccer board, doing fundraising, and they were building, or they would the the concept of Tanger Outlet, which you're very familiar with in Deer Park, was kind of just being born. So there was some public safety stuff that was um concerning, you know, access and egress, uh things of that nature. And I went to and I I knew uh Supervisor Ballone a little bit just from some of the the 9-11 stuff, because as you know, as a councilman now in in Babylon, the town of Babylon community as a whole was hit incredibly hard. You know, 46 members of the town of Babylon were killed on September 11th, and former councilman Ellen McVitie with the Town of Babylon uh Families Association put up a beautiful, beautiful monument that we gather um at every year. And I was involved uh with councilwoman McVitie.
SPEAKER_00And that's open year-round. So when you go to the beach in the summer and the town, it's extraordinary.
SPEAKER_01I tell everybody um it's it's an important place to go to just reflect. And um, you know, the work that went into that, um, so many people, you know, Alan was really the uh councilman, former councilman Alan McVitie was really the the the leader of it, but the families were involved, um, you know, local other firefighters were involved, and I got to know Supervisor Ballone a little more, and he had kind of approached me and said, you know, would you be interested in serving in my government as a as an appointed member of the town planning board? And again, like I said earlier, it was sounded like an interesting kind of assignment, and uh so I took it. And uh I got to learn a lot. I really I think it's was really uh like a great education about local government for me. And it was wonderful people to serve with. Um the the the gal who was the chairwoman at the time, her name was Pat McMahon, and uh she was a real high-level executive for um uh at the time, Grumman Aerospace, very knowledgeable. She was a lawyer, um, very, very knowledgeable woman. And um so I did that for several years, and then when there was an opening, um they approached me and said, Hey, you know, um, you know, we're looking for somebody, you know, um, would you want to screen? So there was a other people that were interested. So I went to the screening. We talked about a variety of issues with the screening committee, um, you know, how you views how you viewed stuff. Um and um when it was all said and done, they had selected me to to run. And um, and then I got to serve with um with uh now supervisor Rich Schaefer, just you know, when we talk about stewardship and leadership and words like you know, integrity and character and what it means to be a leader, both both politically and non-politically. Um Rich is the he sets the standard, I think, for what we want government leaders to kind of be and look like. Um you know, there's a lot of really, really ugly, ugly partisanship right now. We're we're living in a very kind of volatile time. I think everybody agrees with that. But through it all, Richard's kind of just like that. He's he's like uh like if you're out, you know, in the ocean, he's kind of just like uh the beacon, you know, that keeps everybody on course, you know. Um and uh so I learned a lot work serving with him on the town board, a lot about local government, um, a lot about you know uh trying to deal with people um who have opposing views that you might have, and about focusing on uh the issue at hand. And the one thing that I did that I learned, particularly as a as a councilman, is that when when you're speaking to a resident and they're talking to you about an issue, whatever the issue is, whether it's a public safety issue, uh a raccoon in the backyard, uh a broken curb, um, the drainage pipe is clogged, the street light is out, they're fan, that issue is the most important thing to them at that moment. So, like, and I tell this to my daughters too, who are kind of just starting out in their public service career, that empathy is still a good skill to have. You know, it is because sometimes we get caught up in you know a lot of the background noise in the world today. But having that that that empathy skill is really, I think, a critical component to being um at whatever level of government you serve. Look, you're not always gonna satisfy people, but at least they know that you try to help them. So for me, that's always like, you know, even my staff, like this stuff that's just beyond your control. You can't, you can't, there's no way you're gonna be able to solve their problem, but they know that you did your best to help them.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and and and no doubt. And and that's you know, and we were kind of talking, and you know, legislator Donald would be a perfect person to have on, you know, the doing good uh show, right? Because of of just of your approach and your outlook and how you uh not just um work as a legislator, but how you operate your entire life and how you impart that on others. So, you know, we really appreciate that. And and what you know, Sal um is doing in the local community uh in Deer Park, you guys intersect and overlap a lot uh with a lot of your community engagement, whether it be local Knights of Columbus or Sons of Italy. Um I know you guys do a lot of you know work together, and um, you know, Sal, if you want to kind of just talk a little bit about before Sal goes, can I just say this?
SPEAKER_01Yes. So Sal Mangano and his family um are perhaps the finest people on this earth. You're not gonna find a finer family, a better business model, um, people and he sees folks at their worst possible time. And um I can't say enough. I just I can't, you know, for for somebody who a funeral home you wouldn't think as like the the staple of a community. But the Mingano funeral home, and ha having lived there my whole life, and you know, my parents actually knew his grandfather, um the Mingano funeral home is really like the the staple of the Dear Park community, really is.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and and what's been uh fascinating to watch is you know Sal and the family's progression and you know now having the same uh Middle Island and Riverhead and really being ingrained and being pillars of those communities. Um that's kind of what we look to highlight, right? And they have uh um a recent scholarship that they teamed up with the Dixils Fire Department. You and you awarded what was it, a thousand dollar scholarship?
SPEAKER_02A thousand dollar uh scholarship, yes, to uh um one of the uh members of the uh Dixhills Fire Department who's going on to college. She's actually uh becoming a uh doctor. She's uh you know, uh she rides the ambulance and she I believe she's also a firewoman as well. And uh she uh we the the the the department at Dixilles Fire Department selected her as uh our scholarship recipient of this year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that was uh that was great. I know you were crisscrossing uh Suffolk County with uh you know in North Babylon and uh Riverhead Senior Centers. I know you supported for Valentine's Day, you were giving uh the scratch off tickets. I mean, but you know, seniors well senior doesn't love scratch off tickets. Um that was that was very Much appreciated, I know, by them. Um, and I know you have some some paper shredding events you know coming up um I think at Deer Park and Riverhead, right?
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes. We have uh paper shredding event in Deer Park, uh, which is the uh April uh sorry, uh May 4th, uh excuse me, May 5th in Deer Park and uh May 4th in um Riverhead.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and then ManganoFamily Foundation.com is the website. We have all the information up there um with the times and the dates and all that good stuff. Um so back to the legislator. Um kind of talk about, I know you know, you're in looking for another term in office and talk a little about the legislature, you know, maybe if you want to talk about some initiatives that you're you're proud of or what you want to focus on, you know, moving forward.
SPEAKER_01So um just by virtue of the the the items that we've been chatting about, you know, I view myself very much as a uh as a political centrist, um the ability to work with both parties. Um you know, and I I've enjoyed support from a vast array of of you know political people on both sides of the aisle, um, you know, which is good because it helps to kind of move the needle, so to speak, um, in terms of getting stuff done. And um, you know, some local initiatives clearly, um local infrastructure in Deer Park um that we've been working on with Supervisor Schaefer um to revitalize Deer Park Avenues. It's been a priority for the last couple of years, working with um the town and county executive Edward Main to help secure uh sewer funding. So, you know, I'm proud to report that that that's actually moving forward. Um we've had several meetings, you know, both with um the county executives people and supervisor Schaefer's team. Um so that's gonna be a really uh uh good stuff in the next couple of years for the Deer Park community. Had a very big role um in helping facilitate the commercial sewer line um in Huntington Station as well, and get them connected to um the Southwest Sewer District. So just north of the Walwitman Mall, uh along 110, very similar to Deer Park Avenue, older stretcher road, older buildings. Um Supervisor at Smith and Huntington um had approached uh uh myself and then Susan Berlin, uh legislator Susan Berlin, about trying to get a commercial sewer line. So we were able to actually get that done. Um so very proud of that. Um worked on a couple of issues uh after the Thomas Valva tragedy, um which was just heart-wrenching, about trying to improve uh communication and coordination between uh social services and the police department. And uh we did um with then police commissioner Jerry Hart, um, we worked on a program where we were actually to able to get social workers, county social workers embedded in like the special victims unit in the police department. Um and uh, you know, I'm like really, really uh happy that we've been able to do that. Um, you know, because we never want to see something like that happen again. And those kinds of issues, like for me, are the most important. It's the public safety, the social service, and so that everybody has the ability to kind of live their life in safety and security and prosper in which the way that they want to prosper uh at the local level. So I'm in my uh fourth term, I'm running for my fifth term. Um and like I said earlier, um a number of issues come across, you know, the table. And I just think that it's really, really important that in today's very toxic, you know, political environment that folks try and find common ground. And you know, I'm just I'm one of those people not not because I'm congenial as a as a elected official, it's the ability to be able to get along with people, like you know, and and find common ground where you can, you know, find some some good resolutions and you know all parties are kind of happy about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and there's no doubt about it. And I think you know, people appreciate that. They really do appreciate that. And um, you know, talk a little bit about you know what committees do you sit on, and do you use like a lot of kind of fire?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I do I have a pretty like diverse kind of background on committee assignments. I've been in the body now for several years, so I've sat on on human services, um, I've sat on government operations. Uh currently, right now, I sit on the budget and finance committee, which is very important. Um, I sit on the capital, uh, capital project uh committee for k for the county, which is important. I sit on the fire rescue and emergency service committee, uh the public safety committee, and still the human service committee. So that's a pretty kind of diverse, you know, set of committee assignments. So you see different pieces of county government, um, and it's important. You know, it's that we're that we're we're doing the best that we can. And when you work in a kind of bipartisan nature, I have to give kudos, um, kudos to current supervisor Ed Romain and his ability to kind of reach across the aisle. He's a he's kind of like a template of Supervisor Schaeffer, but on the Republican side in that, you know, um he's loyal to his party, but he knows how to work, like, you know, and it's about you know finding areas of common ground. And he's really been like a pleasure, he's been a pleasure to work with. He really has been. Um, you know, there's a there's a lot of old infrastructure in Suffolk that that needs, you know, kind of lack of way of saying it, fixing county roads, county buildings, um, sewers, um, things of that nature, and and and Ed and his team are pretty laser focused on that.
SPEAKER_00You know, that is uh that that is great. And you know, Sal, I know we have um, you know, some more you know events coming up, and you guys have really been doing a fantastic job, you know, working in you know, Deer Park and Middle Island and and and Riverhead communities. Um just want to always always say this, you know, Mangano Family Funeral, 100 years in business. That's really truly an amazing family legacy that you have. Um Thank you. What so if I know you know last time we we spoke about some of the the services and needs that some people have. Um if somebody wants to get in touch with you, what's the best way? Is that do they can they call to get more information? I know we spoke about pre-planning and all sorts of different machinations that people can go through in order to effectively plan. Um is that they call you?
SPEAKER_02How do they absolutely you can give me a call anytime uh day or night, uh 631-586-3600. Anytime, day or night, as I said, seven days a week.
SPEAKER_00And that and that will if I if I'm you know in the town of Riverhead, town of Brookhaven, wherever I am, I could just call that number.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. That will that one number, yes. That one number can reach me.
SPEAKER_00Okay, wonderful. And um, you have any uh parting uh remarks legislated?
SPEAKER_01Just um, you know, thank you for having me. You yourself have an incredible public service career as well, Anthony. You're doing great work and you know helping our business community all across Long Island, actually. Um, but you work in both the town of Babylon and the Hopag Industrial Association, your former director of the Suffolk Industrial Association. You really have a very diverse background, which has really helped our business community in terms helped our local economy. And I just can't say enough good things about Sal and his family. Um, just great people.
SPEAKER_00All right, thank you for joining us. The Mangano Family Foundation doing good show. Have a great day.