Sal Lupinacci, of Huntington Station, father of former town supervisor, dies at 75

Family, hard work, kindness and dependability were the hallmarks of Sal Lupinacci’s life, his family said.

"He taught you how to be dedicated and always persevere and be diplomatic," said his son, former Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, of Melville. "Even though there will be good times and bad times, he always said, 'Be optimistic and have a smile on your face.' "

"He was always nice and kind to others," said Sal's daughter, Allison Belfiore, of Huntington Station. "Always."

Sal Lupinacci, who lived almost his entire life in Huntington Station, died of Legionnaires’ disease Saturday, surrounded by loved ones at Huntington Hospital. He was 75. 

While a successful businessman and community volunteer, Lupinacci's No. 1 priority was his family, his son, also a former state assemblyman, said. Whether serving as a Little League coach, attending school events for his children and grandchildren, or co-hosting birthday parties and big Christmas Eve celebrations for the extended family, Sal was there.

Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, Lupinacci had deep pride and love for Huntington Station. A devoted Catholic, he was a parishioner of St. Hugh of Lincoln Roman Catholic Church in that community and could be counted on to be at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass. He was a member of Huntington High School's Class of 1969, where he was on the varsity football team.

He went on to St. John’s University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in accounting, his son said. Lupinacci worked in banking — first, in the loan department, and closing out his career in international banking with Chase Manhattan in 2008.

Lupinacci met his future wife, Susan, in the mid-1970s at Whitman Meats in Melville, the butcher shop where he worked and that her father owned. The couple wed in 1979 and remained married until her death in 2019. First came Allison, and later, Chad, who served as town supervisor from 2018 to 2021 and is now executive director of the  S uffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency. 

"He was a loving father, my friend and a friend to many," Allison said.

After retiring from banking, Lupinacci embarked on two new careers. For 18 years, he worked as a security guard in the South Huntington School District in the evenings to support homecoming, school plays and parent-teacher nights.

And by day — up until about 10 days ago — he worked at the nonprofit SCO Family of Services, supporting adults with special needs by taking them shopping or to the park.

Lupinacci's younger brother, Louis, of St. James, called his sibling his best friend and the glue that held the family together.

"He was the one everyone looked up to because we trusted him to do everything he said he would do," Louis Lupinacci said. "He took a lot of pride in being dependable."

Chad Lupinacci said his father will be missed as a "fixture" of his family, "but we know we can always look to our memories of him to continue to inspire us for a lifetime." 

In addition to Sal Lupinacci's children and brother, survivors include two grandsons and a great-grandson. 

A wake will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station. A funeral Mass will be offered Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Hugh of Lincoln Roman Catholic Church in Huntington Station. Interment will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. 

Donations may be made to SCO Family of Services, Development Dept., 1415 Kellum Place, Ste. 140, Garden City, NY 11530, or by visiting sco.org.

By Deborah S. Morris

deborah.morris@newsday.comdsvmorris

Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.