Nick and Joan Bartilucci of Laurel Hollow
to Receive Model of Faith Award from C.W. Post

March 19, 2003 — Nick and Joan Bartilucci, residents of the Village of Laurel Hollow, will receive the Mary M. Lai Model of Faith Award at a mass and communion dinner at the Catholic Campus Parish of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University on April 5, 2003.

The award, named for Mary M. Lai, the university’s vice president for finance and treasurer, was created eight years ago during the 50^th anniversary of her service to the University. "We honor people in the professional world who live their lives with faith," said Father Ted Brown, Catholic Chaplain at the campus. "We want to put models of faith out there for our students."

Students play a big part in the ceremony. "It’s a celebration of the faith of young people really," said Father Ted. "Everything is done by them. They write the speeches, choose the music and provide the entertainment. It’s a celebration of the campus parish. People are often surprised to find so many faith-filled youngsters."

The $125 per person ceremony also serves as a fundraiser for campus ministry. The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. with a mass in the C.W. Post Interfaith Center Chapel and follows with a catered dinner. More than 100 people are expected to attend the event, both from the community and the student body. "Students sit at each table and benefit from mixing with community leaders," said Father Ted. Student admission is either reduced or free.

Joan and Nick Bartilucci reside in the Village of Laurel Hollow and have been active parishioners of Saint Edward the Confessor Church in Syosset for over 40 years. They are the parents of three children (Lisa, a pediatrician; Mark, a chemical engineer; and Paul, a financier) and seven grandchildren.

Joan and Nick were both born in Queens, New York. Joan spent her summers in Bayville, Long Island. They met while attending Newtown High School in Elmhurst and were married soon after Nick graduated from Manhattan College, just three weeks before he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to the Panama Canal Zone. There he served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp.

Joan joined him in Panama where they spent a year and a half involved in the local community with other Army personnel and Canal Zone government employees. During their stay there, they had the honor of being asked to serve as Godparents to three children of their military friends.

In 1961, they moved to Syosset and Joan immediately became active in community, church and school affairs while raising their three children. Because of the age span between their eldest and youngest children, she had the distinction of being lunch mother at Saint Edward the Confessor School for 20 consecutive years. She was an active member of the Rosary-Altar Society and participated in many events for Our Lady of Mercy Academy and Chaminade High School. Joan and Nick both served as representatives of the PTA for Mercy Academy. Currently, Joan is a volunteer for the March of Dimes and a charter member of the Court of Saint Edward’s Daughters of the Americas.

Nick is president and chairman of the board of Dvirka and Bartilucci Consulting Engineers in Woodbury and chairman of the board of Water Commissioners of the Jericho Water District. His professional experience spans 45 years in civil and environmental engineering. He graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of civil engineering degree and from New York University with a master of civil engineering degree. He is an active member in professional societies and conferences.

Nick is a consultor to the Environmental Engineering Department at Manhattan College, a member of the Advisory Council of the Long Island Groundwater Research Institute at The University of Stony Brook, a member of the Nassau County Water Resources Advisory Board and is the representative to the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council for the Water Environment Federation.

He is active in community, fraternal and charitable organizations. He served as first vice president of the Center for the Developmentally Disabled and as a member of the board of directors of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Association. He currently is a eucharistic minister and a member of the Parish Council and Special Projects Committee at Saint Edward the Confessor Church. He also is a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and the Sons of Italy. He was the 2001 honoree of Nassau County Italian-Americans in Government Services.

Nick is a member in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus with the title Cavalieri (Knight). Membership was conferred by the Grand Master of the Order, His Royal Highness, Prince Victor Emmanuel IV, the Duke of Savoy at a presentation ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland. Membership in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is granted to recognize those who support philanthropic causes, and have contributed to the benefit of mankind through good works, the arts and letters, sciences and humanitarian disciplines.

Recently, Nick was named the 2002 honoree for The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor. In October 2002 he was honored by The Republic of Italy for his contributions to the Italian American Community.

Both John and Nick have celebrated their life together through their dedication to their family and their service to others, and continue to be active witnesses to their Faith.

For more information, call Father Ted Brown at 516-299-2229 or email parishnet@aol.com.