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Anthony Imbarrato, former Nassau GOP leader, dies at 78

BY RICK BRAND | rick.brand@newsday.com

November 29, 2008

Anthony C. Imbarrato, a lawyer and Hempstead Town board member who gave state and Nassau Republican chairman Joseph Mondello his start in politics, has died after a long illness. He was 78.

Imbarrato, Mondello's law partner for 25 years, died Wednesday at his home in Garden City.

"He was my mentor," Mondello said. "I feel I lost the older brother I never had."

Imbarrato recruited Mondello into the Nassau GOP, first at the local GOP club, then as block captain and later, when Imbarrato moved to Garden City, he arranged for Mondello to take Imbarrato's position as Levittown leader.

Imbarrato was known for his wit and charm. "He was the funniest person I knew and he just left you in stitches," Mondello said.

Imbarrato was born in the Bronx, one of four children. He paid his way through Fordham University and later Fordham Law School, working as a postal worker and a dance instructor.

Shortly after his 1955 graduation, Imbarrato met the woman who would become his wife of 52 years, Vicki Mills. At the time, she was a singer on the radio and TV quiz show "Name That Tune." A short time later, Imbarrato was drafted into the Army and Mills followed him to Augusta, Ga., where they were married in 1956.

After his military discharge, the couple in 1959 moved to Levittown and he opened a law practice. He began to get involved in Republican politics.

From 1962 to 1966, Imbarrato was a counsel to state Sen. Edward Speno (R-East Meadow). From 1969 to 1979, he was a Hempstead Town board member.

Imbarrato retired from the firm Flaum, Imbarrato and Mondello in 1995, but kept his hand in politics with an appointment from then-Gov. George Pataki to chair the New York State Employment Relations Board, a post he held until 2003, when he became ill.

Imbarrato's focus changed in mid-career when he and his wife had a developmentally disabled daughter. He became involved with Community Mainstreaming Associates, a nonprofit organization that provides support for group homes. For 15 years, he served on the group's board.

"He was on the fast track to being county executive, but to him, politics was always an avocation...his family was always first," Mondello said.

Imbarrato was a eucharistic minister and was a founder of the Marco Polo Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy in America in Levittown.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Donna of Wainscott, Lori Wend of East Northport and Antonia of Kings Point; sister, Gloria Silvestri of Palm City, Fla.; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be held today from 7 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 2 to 7 p.m. at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home in Garden City. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Garden City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Community Mainstreaming Associates, 99 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530.