Amityville Record

Anthony A. Tafuri, Attorney, Town Councilman and Judge, at 87Free Access



Judge Anthony A. Tafuri

Judge Anthony A. Tafuri

Anthony A. Tafuri, known to most as “Andy,” died on March 29, 2023, at 87 years old. He was born in Amityville and served the Village of Lindenhurst as Associate Police Justice, the Town of Babylon as an attorney and councilman and was a Suffolk County District Court judge.

“Everyone who knew him loved him,” said his daughter-in-law Luci-Ann Tafuri, adding how everyone who crossed his path had a story, a memory of him.

Mr. Tafuri grew up curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore, which led him to joining the Boy Scouts early on in his life, said his daughter-in-law. One of his most memorable achievements as a child was receiving a certificate of heroism award from the National Boy Scout Court of Honor for saving his Assistant Scoutmaster from drowning.

Mr. Tafuri was a 1952 graduate of Lindenhurst High School and was voted “the cutest” in his class. After high school he attended Western Maryland College, now known as McDaniel College, where his favorite course was political science. Upon graduation from Western Maryland, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, having participated in the ROTC program. He was then deployed overseas and served in the Korean conflict. He left the Army with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After his service he attended graduate school, earning his J.D. from Boston College School of Law. Mr. Tafuri married Dolores Alessandrini on September 16, 1961 at St. John’s Catholic Church of Utica, New York. The couple met on a blind date set up by friends who thought they would make a good pair because they were both “on the shorter side.”

“She [Dolores] didn’t like him at first,” said Luci-Ann, as she shared how Mr. Tafuri had Dolores walk in the rain while wearing high heels and crinoline under her dress on that first date. However, Dolores’ reaction did not deter him from asking her out on a second date the following week. “Going out for burgers and ice cream was their favorite,” said Luci-Ann.

Luci-Ann said her mother-in-law recalls how Mr. Tafuri took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. The couple had three boys whom he loved dearly and were blessed with seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Mr. Tafuri was a hard worker and was raised to be self-confident and dependable, which served him tremendously in his dynamic and successful career, said his family. He worked in private practice as an attorney, was an Associate Police Justice in the Village of Lindenhurst, Attorney for the Town of Babylon, a Babylon Town Councilman, and a District Court Judge.

Town of Babylon Supervisor Richard Schaffer knew Judge and Councilman Andy as a professional colleague and friend who shared his wisdom and guidance with him during many years of his own service. “He was a valued advisor who always put his town and community first and represented all of what is best in public service,” said Schaffer. “His selfless leadership was respected by everyone no matter their political party or philosophy. He will be sorely missed.”

Hon. James F. Quinn knew Mr. Tafuri when Mr. Tafuri was in private practice and he worked as one of his young associates. Later, it was Mr. Tafuri who introduced him to his future partner in practice, and also sold him and his partner the building in Lindenhurst where he practiced law before becoming a judge.

“He kept in touch with me and mentored me,” said Quinn, adding, “He was a good man. People absolutely respected him. He was honorable in every sense of the word.”

Quinn also expressed how, as a District Court judge, it is difficult to find someone with compassion, “and Andy had that,” he said. “He would truly listen and had excellent judicial demeanor. He was a lifetime attorney and was deeply respected.”

Hon. Joseph Santorelli spoke on Mr. Tafuri’s character as both a person and judge. “He was hardworking,” he said. “Being a judge was so important to him and he comported himself in that manner all the time. He was always kind in the way he would talk to defendants.”

Santorelli described him as a consummate professional and the gentlest man. “He was a father figure and I think the people who elected him should be proud that they put him on the bench,” said Santorelli. “They should feel proud that someone like him was a judge,” he continued, adding that, “I miss him a lot.”

Attorney Robert Weiner said he was an excellent lawyer and judge, but above all, a wonderful person. “Anthony was a fine man,” said Weiner. “I am honored to be named as one of his friends.”

In addition to his career and his commitment to the community, his daughter-in-law spoke about Mr. Tafuri’s passion for sports. “He was very much into athletics,” said Luci-Ann. In high school, Anthony Tafuri played baseball, football, basketball and wrestled. In his college years, he continued to pursue wrestling and was a Mason-Dixon Wrestling Champion. He also continued to play baseball and basketball, as well as soccer. In his later years, he enjoyed tennis and golf.

Mr. Tafuri was a member of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC), was part of the Alpha Gamma Tau fraternity in college, and in his later years he was an active member of the Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts (BACCA), the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Suffolk Academy of Law. He was also a member of SS Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church.

“He was a sympathetic man who valued his beliefs and was willing to work tirelessly for them,” said Luci-Ann.

Anthony A. Tafuri was dedicated in his commitment to his career, and more precisely, the communities he served, but time with family and friends was of the utmost importance to him as well. He enjoyed vacations with family to Bermuda, Montauk and Woodloch Pines, and he eventually retired to Jupiter, Florida.

“Commitment is a key word that could be used to describe my father-in-law,” said Luci-Ann. “He was dedicated to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy and was most of all devoted to those he knew and loved.”

Known above all as a “gentleman,” Luci-Ann said he had a quiet way about him that she believes endeared him to others. “He was quiet. He wasn’t loud, and I think that’s something people really liked about him.”

Luci-Ann remembers him as someone who was always busy doing something for somebody and was there if anyone needed help or advice. “He would always lend a compassionate ear and was helpful to everyone. He is greatly missed.”

Anthony A. Tafuri is predeceased by his parents, Veronica and Andrew Tafuri.

He is survived by his wife Dolores Alessandrini of Jupiter, Florida; his siblings, sisters Joanna Palermo and her husband Carmen of Charlotte, North Carolina; Deborah Forcht and her husband Robert of Springfield, Virginia; Veronica Pearlswig of Crystal River, Florida and his brothers, William and his wife Karen of Framingham, Massachusetts and John and his wife Kathy of Westlake, Ohio. His children, Mark and his wife Luci-Ann of Jupiter, Florida; Eric and his wife Kate of Arlington, Virginia and Scott of Oakland, California also survive him as do his grandchildren: Sydney, Danielle DallaValle and her husband Anthony, Michael, Jason, Sean, Daniel and Matthew and his great-granddaughter Olivia DallaValle.

He reposed at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home at 448 West Main Street in Babylon. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at SS Cyril and Methodius R.C. Church in Deer Park April 15, 2023. Interment followed in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

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