R.I.P. | May 8–Len Mancusi, former Comptroller's Office colleague

Len Mancusi

Leonard Mancusi of Woodmere died at 71 of natural causes. Born in the Bronx, he grew up in Queens, graduated from Iona College with a BS in accounting and an MBA in organizational behavior. He then received his JD degree from New York Law School.

Prior to beginning his long career in government, Mancusi joined the audit staff of Pannell, Kerr, Forster and Co., an international CPA firm. Upon receiving his MBA he began his career in government, first as Secretary to the New York City Planning Commissioner in Economic Development Administration and then as a Special Assistant to the Commissioner in the Environmental Protection Administration.

In 1974 he joined the New York City Comptroller's Office and during the next 16 years served as Special Assistant Deputy Comptroller, Special Assistant to the Comptroller for Risk Management and Assistant Comptroller for Administration. In 1990 Mancusi was appointed New York City Deputy Fire Commissioner and in 1994 he returned to the Comptroller's office where he was appointed New York City Senior Assistant Comptroller.

As an attorney, Mr. Mancusi served as an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School of Business Administration of Long Island University and as an Adjunct Professor of Law, Real Estate and Insurance at Mercy College. He also served 15 years as a volunteer arbitrator in the New York City Civil Court.

His community activities included serving on an advisory panel at Yale University Medical School Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, executive secretary of the National Council of Columbia Associations in Civil Service, President of the Columbia Association of the Comptroller's Office, Vice President of the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit, Vice President of the Coalition of Italian American Associations. He was also on the Board of Directors of the America-Israel Friendship League, the Catholic Migration and Refugee Office of the Brooklyn Diocese and the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York, and the Italian Apostolate Advisory Committee, He was also a member of the ltalian-American Labor Council. Len has also been a member of the Per Sempre Lodge 2344 Order Sons of Italy in American in Lynbrook for 38 years. He served as corresponding secretary and was on the commission of social justice advisory committee.

In 1988 the President of ltaly, Francisco Cossiga bestowed the rank of Cavaliere (knight) in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy for his dedication to the ltalian-American community. On June 2 1993, Italian President Scalfaro elevated him to the rank of Cavaliere Ufficiale: and on May 12, 1995 the Ambassador to the United States presented him with Italy's Distinguished Service Award. On October 1, 1994 John Cardinal O'Connor invested him as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and was elevated to the rank of Knight Commander in September 1999.

Len is survived by his wife Mildred, daughter Stephanie and her husband Andrew DeCicco and their children Samantha, Kristen, Michael and Matthew. He is also survived by his sister Elisabeth Mullen.