Perry Cuocci named Malverne trustee

Malverne resident Perry Cuocci, vice president of the Malverne Volunteer Ambulance Corps and retired special agent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was sworn in as village trustee during the village’s November board meeting Nov. 2. Cuocci, a 10-year ambulance corps member and its president from 2014-2016, replaces village trustee Anthony Marino, who resigned suddenly in October citing health reasons.

“The stress of the position was affecting my health,” said Marino, who will continue to volunteer at the Holiday Lighting and with the village’s Office of Emergency Management.

Cuocci said the board is in the process of reassigning trustees to liaison with different village departments than they’ve had in the past, and he should know soon which departments would be his specific responsibility. “I know I will be the board’s liaison for Office of Emergency Management and for the Malverne Merchants and Professional Association, and then it’s a fluid situation at this point,” he said.

Cuocci received a call from Mayor Patti McDonald a week prior to the November board meeting offering him the position, and said he was stunned and honored to be considered. “She explained to me about trustee Marino, and I said, ‘I’m sorry to hear that, I wish him the best, but why are you calling me?’ I thought her call was about the ambulance corps.” Cuocci also sits on the board of the ambulance corps.

Currently working in the corporate security department of Con Edison, Cuocci said he has always been a big believer in the community. “Malverne is a little special Mayberry in the middle of a lot of chaos, and that just doesn’t happen,” Cuocci said. “We didn’t just get lucky and have this happen. It’s because of all the community involvement and all the organizations we have.” Cuocci also said he wanted to show the residents that everyone needs to pitch in. “I’m not big on entitlements — I don’t think we’re entitled to much — but if you want a community like this, you better partake in the community.”

Plus, it was hard for him to close the door on the mayor’s offer. “When your mayor comes asking you to help out the village, it’s difficult to sit there and say no,” he said.

“He brings a lot of knowledge to the board: prior FBI agent, long-standing volunteer with the village,” said the mayor. “I think he’ll be a valuable asset to the board. He has a vested interested in the village, he has a young family, and wants to maintain the village’s charm,” she said.

Prior to accepting, Cuocci said he discussed it with his wife, Anne Marie, an FBI special agent for over 30 years. “My wife and I talked about what it meant to accept it, and what its going to mean is that she picks up more than she already has on her plate, but again, is it worth it for us,” Cuocci said. “To showing our involvement in the community — we say yes.”

Cuocci was pleased to hear of Marino’s continued involvement in the village. “He’s such a positive influence in this village, and he’s around a lot. He’s going to stay involved, which is only going to benefit Malverne.” Mayor McDonald agreed. “He was and still is a great benefit to Malverne,” she said.