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Leteri and O'Brien honored at KPEF ball
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|  | | By Maureen Ledden Rossi |
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November 30, 2007 | 12:31 PM
The fourth annual Kings Park Education Foundation (KPEF) Masquerade Ball was held earlier this month at the Watermill in Smithtown. Over 200 revelers gathered to raise money for the foundation, whose primary goal is to attract, manage and distribute monies to enrich education in the Kings Park School District.
The event offers the organization a yearly venue to honor residents of Kings Park who have made consistent, significant contributions to the community.
This year's Humanitarian Award went to Tony Leteri, owner of Leteri Waste Management. A leader in the business and environmental community on Long Island, Leteri is a lifetime director of the Hauppauge Industrial Association and Long Island Builders Association. He's vice president of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce and the chairman of a new organization called Kings Park in the kNOw, which is designed to eradicate the sale of illegal drugs and educate parents and children about substance abuse and destructive decisions.
Tony Tanzi, president of the KPEF, said of Leteri, "I have always been impressed by his enthusiasm and drive. He's the type of person who not only talks about progress, he gets out there and works hard to make it happen."
Leteri's oldest daughter, Anna, said, "My dad taught us two important lessons, never give up and actions speak louder than words."
"Having received the humanitarian award from my community shows by my actions that I care for my community and my community cares for me," Leteri said.
Leteri and his wife, Anna, have six children including Anna — Angelo, Maria, Irene, Sophia and Michael — five of whom were at his side for the celebration, along with his son-in-law Benny Gambino and one-year-old granddaughter Eva.
Mark O'Brien of Kings Park was the other honoree for the evening. He was voted Educator of the Year by the KPEF.
Honored in Who's Who Among American Teachers, O'Brien is a special education teacher and head football coach at Kings Park high school.
He was nominated for the Who's Who title by one of his former football players. "It's very nice when the kids notice what you do for them and it means something for them," said O'Brien.
When asked how he ended up in special education, he admitted it wasn't part of the original plan. "I didn't have a preference, but I had a coach that I worked with who suggested it," he said. "I had no idea if I would like it, but I fell in love with it. Every day you make a difference in [students'] lives somehow. When you are teaching something and the light bulb goes off, it's just the greatest thing ever."
Tanzi said he has known O'Brien for many years. "Mark O'Brien is one of those longtime Kings Parkers who is always there when you need him. I've worked personally with him on a number of projects and say without reservation that he is a true gentleman," he said.
O'Brien is known to lend his players' muscle and time for various community projects, including an annual cleanup at the Bluff, lifting and hauling items for the Kings Park Heritage Museum, yard work for community members and food drives.
O'Brien's love of football came long before he became head football coach. While a senior at Kings Park High School, his team was the first in history to have a home playoff game and nailed the best record the school had up until that time.
The coach is also third assistant chief of the Kings Park Fire Department. Longtime family friend and fire chief Steve Butler said. "Mark's done so much not only as a firefighter and teacher but as a football coach — Mark accomplished a lot of different titles and championships the school had never had before."
O'Brien is married to Pam Schmidt, also a Kings Park graduate, and they have a son, Joey.
The work of the Kings Park Education Foundation has translated into dozens of projects designed to enhance the Kings Park school experience. They have donated video equipment for the athletic department, audio-visual equipment for the science labs and white boards to augment classroom learning.
Currently, the foundation is working to refurbish the boys' locker room and recently provided greenhouse equipment, tools and supplies for the science department at the high school.
Education Foundation Board member Ed Cunningham expressed his excitement about the ShopSabre CNC router and portable saw mills they secured for the school. "They support a variety of technology classes," he said. "The kids can design all kinds of stuff; the machine carves out images — the kids can make plaques and furniture."
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