Rockville Centre letter carrier readies to step away

Jimmy O’Grady, affectionately known to customers as “Rambo,” is preparing for his final rounds with the United States Postal Service after 41 years of service in the Village of Rockville Centre.

Since starting his career as a letter carrier in 1983, O’Grady, who moved to the nearby Oceanside community when he was eight, has become a beloved figure in the Rockville Centre community, known for his unwavering devotion to delivering the mail and his many amicable qualities.

“I took the test, and I ended up doing pretty good,” O’Grady recalled of his early days with the USPS, “so I asked, and they sent me here.”

O’Grady, 65, was born in Rockaway Beach, He faithfully served the residents along Postal Route 22, which stretches from Hamilton Road to Marlborough Court and Oxford Place to Stratford Road, for the last 37 years.

“It’s probably the longest anybody (here) has had a route,” he said.

During his time at the post office, he met his future wife, Cira Ann Devito, a fellow letter carrier, who he helped train during his 25 years as the shop’s steward.

“He’s just like a big teddy bear,” Devito said. “He’s just got a very good way about him. He’s a very hard-working man with a great personality. He loves people, animals, sports — especially football.”

Rockville Centre is also where he earned the nickname “Rambo,” after winning a memorable arm-wrestling match with a colleague from work.

“I had a friend who started working here a little bit after me,” O’Grady said. “We had this arm-wrestling match. He’s a pretty big guy and he thought he could beat me. He said, ‘Man, you’re as strong as Rambo.’ From there on it was just Rambo.”

He is cherished by customers like Geralyn Gomelia, a 30-year resident of Stratford Road, whose house is one of many stops along O’Grady’s route, and who spoke very highly about his caring nature.

“We became friends,” Gomelia said. “I looked forward to seeing him every day and he was always so positive.”

Gomelia said O’Grady cared about her family and grew very attached to her pets. She said he always brought treats for the dogs and was thoughtful and concerned. She said that when one of her dogs died, O’Grady wrote her a heartfelt letter and gave her a picture frame that he made just for his four-legged friend.

Rockville Centre Village Trustee Emilio Grillo, whose house is also located along O’Grady’s postal route, said, “he’s such a fabulous human being, who truly embodies the USPS credo.”

Despite his dedication and love for the job, the past few years have taken a toll. O’Grady underwent a knee replacement a few years ago and sustained a serious injury in a car accident last October.

“I think 41 years is enough. It’s been long enough,” he said.

As he prepares for retirement, O’Grady reflects on the relationships he built over the more than three-and-a-half decades in the village.

“I’ll miss my customers,” he said. “They’re just great people. Quite a few of them are like family. I’ve seen their kids grow up. They’re in their 30’s now.”

O’Grady said that he plans to stay busy in retirement, possibly taking a part-time job and dabbling in real estate. His love for the community remains strong, and he looks forward to staying connected with the friends he has made over the years.

On August 3, his last day on the job, O’Grady’s customers plan to organize a gathering to celebrate his remarkable career. For many, he has been more than just a letter carrier, he has been a friend and a daily source of positivity.

“We want to show our appreciation for Jim,” Gomelia said. “He’s just the nicest guy.”

For Jimmy “Rambo” O’Grady, the journey has been long, but fulfilling. The Rockville Centre community will remember his legacy as a dedicated and beloved letter carrier in the village for years to come.