Anthony J. “Tony” Santino, 64, a longtime public servant who was supervisor of the Town of Hempstead from 2016 to 2018 and most recently served as an East Rockaway village trustee, died on Nov. 6 from an undisclosed illness.
In a decades-long career in government and community service, Santino left a lasting mark on Long Island. Before becoming Hempstead’s chief executive, he served as a town councilman, and became the longest-tenured Republican on the Town Board.
A lifelong East Rockaway resident, Santino attended Centre Avenue School and East Rockaway High School before earning a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from St. John’s University. He began his career in public service working for the late U.S. Rep. Norman F. Lent, and eventually became his district director.
Santino began his first stint on the East Rockaway village board in 1983, at age 22, and served for eight years, two of them as deputy mayor. After working for Lent, he joined the staff of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors. Prior to his election to the Town Board, Santino was the town’s director of communications for six and a half years, and spent 22 years on the board before becoming supervisor.
During his tenure, he oversaw numerous initiatives and projects that reflected his focus on local quality of life and community improvement. Among his most notable achievements was the construction of the town’s September 11 Memorial at Point Lookout, honoring the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
In a statement on Nov. 6, the town said it “mourns the passing of former Supervisor Anthony J. Santino, a dedicated public servant to the very end, whose decades of service to our community has left a lasting legacy.” The town credited him for his “tireless work ethic, sharp intellect, and passionate dedication to local government,” and noted that his impact on Hempstead would not be forgotten.
A devoted member of his faith community, Santino served as a lector at St. Raymonds Catholic Church, in East Rockaway, for more than 40 years. He was also active in civic and fraternal organizations including the Knights of Columbus, the East Rockaway Kiwanis Club and the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America.
Village officials said that Santino remained engaged in village activities even in the final weeks of his life, offering his colleagues guidance and support. In a statement, the village said it mourned his death “with deep sorrow and heartfelt respect,” describing him as “a loyal son of our community, a devoted public servant, and a cherished friend and neighbor whose legacy of service and love for East Rockaway will never be forgotten.”
Tributes have poured in from across the community following the news of his death. Kate Weglikowski, a former town staff member who worked for Santino, wrote on FaceBook that he was “such a kind man.”
“He was one of the most humble, genuine, and dapper people I’ve ever met … a man of integrity, class, and compassion,” Weglikowski added.
Longtime East Rockaway resident Alan Lapp expressed condolences to Santino’s family, recalling that his own family had long been involved with the East Rockaway Republican Club.
“[They] always had a good relationship with Tony,” Lapp wrote on FaceBook.
Santino’s commitment to public service extended beyond politics. In 2017 he was honored by the Hewlett-based Center for Adult Life Enrichment for his years of community involvement.
His eighth-grade math teacher, Rosalind Deutschman, attended the event, and reminisced about her “quiet and astute” former student, recalling that he was part of an accelerated class that took the ninth-grade math Regents exam early.
Through his decades of civic leadership and personal connection to the communities he served, Santino earned a reputation as both a capable administrator and a deeply rooted local figure.
His funeral Mass was scheduled for Wednesday at St. Raymond.
