Dix Hills – Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, Deputy Supervisor Councilman Ed Smyth, Town Clerk Andrew Raia and Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman were joined by current and former Town of Huntington, Suffolk County, and State officials, the Tepe and Bifulco families, the Dix Hills Fire Department, the Huntington Manor Fire Department, and the Huntington Community First Aid Squad on Sunday, June 27 at Dix Hills Park, for a dedication ceremony officially renaming the park after Huntington's first and only woman Town Supervisor to date, Antonia “Toni” P. Rettaliata-Tepe, and her beloved husband, Vietnam Veteran, Commissioner and Ex-Chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department, Philip H. Tepe.
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated, “A woman of substance, trailblazing grit and fortitude, Supervisor Toni Rettaliata's achievements in Town office far exceed the single history-making, glass ceiling-breaking achievement of becoming our first woman Town Supervisor, and it should be noted how an effective Town leader she was in what was then a very short two-year term, and without a supportive majority on the Town Board! Her partner in life for the past two decades, Phil Tepe, was an American patriot and life-long public servant who dedicated his life to our community. Dix Hills was the hamlet Toni and Phil called home for many years and this family park dedication is a fitting tribute to their legacies of service, love of community and family.”
Deputy Supervisor Councilman Ed Smyth stated, “Both Toni and Phil were pillars of our community. They both embodied and lived lives of public service. Phil was a veteran, a volunteer firefighter and heavily involved in the department community. Toni was a member of the NYS Assembly, a trailblazing Town Supervisor, and a Republican leader. The political graveyard is littered with the people who underestimated her. She was a worthy adversary, but she always gave second chances. I am living proof of that. So when you are out here playing golf and you hit your ball into the trees, and it bounces out back onto the fairway think of Toni. She’s giving you a second chance. They are truly missed by their friends and family alike. Dedicating this park in their honor is well-deserved.”
Town Clerk Andrew P. Raia said, “I’m very proud of my relationship with Toni Rettaliata Tepe. She was a lifelong friend, mentor, and an inspirational pioneer when it came to women in elected government positions, she will sorely be missed. Phil Tepe taught me all about the Brotherhood of Volunteer Firefighters and the dedication and commitment that they have to protect and serve the community. It is my hope that for generations to come people entering Dix Hills Park will take a moment to google Toni and Phil Tepe and learn what an inspiration they were to our community.”
Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman said, “Public service is such a tremendously rewarding vocation. There is so much that we can do when we work together. Toni and Phil are examples of people who loved this Town and who gave so much in their areas of interest to advance our community.”
Former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, who served with Supervisor Rettaliata, said, “I was honored to speak at Sunday’s renaming of Dix Hills Park. Toni and Phil were dedicated to our Town. I knew Toni for over 45 years. She cared for the residents of Huntington and when she was Supervisor, she instituted numerous programs to benefit them, many are still in existence. Phil’s commitment to the Fire Service is unparalleled. Toni and Phil are gone, but they are not forgotten.”
Todd Cohen, Chairman of the Board of the Dix Hills Fire Department, stated, “When Phil and Toni's grandchildren enter the park, they will forever be reminded of their grandparents. We wish this park brings smiles to the Tepe family. We hope that the community members that knew Phil and Toni will smile and tell others stories of Phil and Toni and their love for the Town of Huntington.”
Jessica Van Bladel, niece of Supervisor Toni Rettaliata, stated, “Not only are we recognizing the tremendous influence both Toni and Phil left on the town of Huntington, most of all we are honoring them as individuals. My aunt Toni and uncle Phil have left an everlasting impression on me; to be the best version of myself, and I know many of you can say the same.”
Brett Tepe, son of the Tepes, also following in his father’s footsteps as First Assistant Chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department, spoke on behalf of the Tepe family, stating, “The Tepe family is honored and humbled to have Dix Hills Park dedicated in honor of our parents, Phil And Toni. It is a place where future generations of our family and countless Huntington residents may visit and appreciate the best that Huntington has to offer. As it will now bear the name of two of the most dedicated town residents, the park will stand as a reflection of the great things Phil and Toni always imagined for Huntington and worked so passionately to achieve.”
Attendees of the ceremony counted down from ten – the number of years Toni Rettaliata served in elected office – to unveil the sign dedicated as Antonia “Toni” P. Rettaliata-Tepe and Philip H. Tepe Dix Hills Park.
ATTENDEES
Joining Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, Deputy Supervisor Councilman Ed Smyth, Town Clerk Andrew Raia, Receiver of Taxes Guthman and former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia to represent the Town included former Councilman Mark Capodanno, Veterans Advisory Board Chairman Bill Ober, Treasurer Bob Santo, members Hon. W. Gerard Asher, Albert “Butch” Jensen, Walter Scally and Richard Serynek, Town Attorney Nick Ciappetta, Chief Administrative Law Jude Joshua C. Price, Administrative Law Judge Jim Leonick, Director of General Services Andre Sorrentino, Director of Parks & Recreation Bill Musto, Director of Human Services Carmen Kasper, Planning Board Vice Chairperspn Bob Bontempi, Deputy Director of General Services Joe Rech, Veterans Affairs Coordinator Carol Rocco, Fire Marshal Terry McNally, Beautification Advisory Council Chairperson Stephanie Bontempi, and Zoning Board of Appeals member Sal Ferro.
Joining the ceremony from New York State were New York State Supreme Court Justice David T. Reilly, who served in Supervisor Rettaliata’s Town administration and with her during her time in the New York State Assembly; Assemblyman Steve Stern, who serves the Assembly District in which Rettaliata served; and Robert Paul, a representative from Assemblyman Keith Brown’s office.
From Suffolk County, attendees included Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy, Legislator Susan Berland, Legislator Tom Donnelly, Legislator William Spencer, and Legislator Robert Trotta.
Veterans organizations represented at the ceremony included Commander Gary Steinmuller of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Nathan Hale Post #1469, of which Phil Tepe served as Commander until his passing, Commander Andrew Brady of Huntington American Legion Post #360, and Commander Bruce Brenner of the Combat Infrantymen's Association, members and veterans from the community.
Members of the Dix Hills Fire Department joined Chairman Todd Cohen at the ceremony, along with Huntington Manor Fire Department members, who, with the Dix Hill Fire Department, displayed the American flag from atop their fire engine ladders. Chief Dave Kaufman and members of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad attended the ceremony.
Joining Town Attorney Nick Ciappetta, who also served as President of the South Huntington School Board at the ceremony from South Huntington Schools were Superintendent Dr. Dave Bennardo and School Board Vice President Laura Carey.
Toni Tepe’s successor as Chairman of the Huntington Republican Committee, Tom McNally, attended the ceremony with his wife Diane and members. Lorraine Santoianni, a very close decades-long friend of Toni’s, who was “like a sister” to Toni, and served as Chairman Tepe’s “right hand,” and was a former member of the Town of Huntington Planning Board, joined the ceremony.
The Tepe, Bifulco and Finello families were represented by Tepe children, daugther Tiffany (Tepe) LeGrow and her husband Luke LeGrow with Tepe grandchildren Shane and Blakely; son Philip Tepe and his wife Danielle Tepe with grandson Philip Henry, named for Phil; son Brett Tepe, First Assistant Chief, Dix Hills Fire Department; Phil’s sister Elizabeth and her husband Frank Finkelstein; Toni’s niece Jessica Van Bladel; Toni’s cousin Jay Finello and his wife Sheila; and Toni's niece Elizabeth and her husband Brendan Quigley.
BACKGROUND
On October 20, 2020, what would have been the 76th birthday of Huntington's first woman Town Supervisor, the Town Board renamed Dix Hills Park in memory of Antonia “Toni” P. Rettaliata-Tepe, and her husband Philip H. Tepe.
The Town of Huntington’s first and only woman Town Supervisor and former Assemblywoman, Toni Rettaliata-Tepe, lost her battle with cancer on April 8, 2020, just nineteen days after her husband Phil Tepe, Commissioner and Ex-Chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department and member of the Town’s Veterans Advisory Board, passed away unexpectedly on March 20, 2020.
Born Antonia Patricia Bifulco in Manhattan on October 20, 1944 to Pasquale Bifulco and Mary (Finello) Bifulco, “Toni” was raised in Huntington and graduated from Huntington High School. She went on to attend Katherine Gibbs School in Melville and work as an administrative assistant in the Suffolk County courts.
After marrying John B. Rettaliata, Jr., Toni ran for elected office under her married name, Toni Rettaliata, and became the third and last woman to date to ever hold the office of New York State Assemblymember from the Town of Huntington. Toni followed in the footsteps of Huntington suffragist Ida Bunce Sammis, the first woman to ever serve in the New York State Assembly, and succeeded Mary Rose McGee in the 8th Assembly District (1979-1982), then after redistricting, in the 10th Assembly District (1983–1987). Assemblywoman Rettaliata notably secured the first $31,000 in funding that allowed former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia to build the award-winning and history-making Huntington Town Clerk’s Archives and Records Center, now named for the former and longest-serving Town Clerk.
In 1987, Toni Rettaliata was elected Town of Huntington Supervisor and served the then two-year term as the first and only woman to ever hold the office (1988-1989); she was responsible for the formation of the Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board and initiated the project to build Veteran’s Plaza on the front lawn of Huntington Town Hall.
Supervisor Rettaliata established the Town of Huntington Refuse District #3, the Special Election for which having failed under a prior administration. Refuse District #3 was approved by residents under Supervisor Rettaliata's leadership due to the transparency and open lines of communication her administration established with residents, even hiring two staff members in the Town Clerk's office to answer phone calls. The creation of this Refuse District allowed refuse charges to be included in the resident's property tax bills instead of paying a monthly bill from a carter.
Supervisor Rettaliata also created a Division of Constituent Services under her office to field calls from residents. She had a bus that would travel to different parts of the Town to respond to various constituent issues. She also resurrected the Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program. Supervisor Rettaliata initiated the adoption of resolutions to create a four-year term for Town Supervisor and Highway Superintendent, which passed and took effect after her two-year term in office.
Toni remarried in 2000 to Phil Tepe. Toni Tepe was elected Chairman of the Huntington Republican Committee in 2006 and served as its leader until her death.
Born in Rockville Centre on January 15, 1949 and raised in Dix Hills, Philip H. Tepe was an American patriot with decades of service to his country and community as a Vietnam Combat Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Nathan Hale Post #1469, and a member of the Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board, which his future wife established during her time as Town Supervisor, he also served as co-Chairman of its Vietnam Veterans Committee.
Phil Tepe served as a Suffolk County Deputy Fire Coordinator, a Town of Huntington Fire Marshal and was a great leader in his own right, most recently serving as Commissioner of the Dix Hills Fire District, of which he was an ex-Chief, Badge #207 and 52-year member of Engine Company 2.
At the time of his passing, the Tepe family asked those wishing to honor Phil to make a donation in his name to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. Terry Farrell was one of Phil’s best friends and in the years after 9/11, Phil worked closely with the Farrell Brothers and did many great things for firefighters and fire departments across the country.
VIDEO: https://huntingtonny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=2571
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