Anthony Suraci

Anthony Suraci, a long-time community and political activist from the Long Island City/Sunnyside area, passed away on September 29 after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease.
He is survived by his children, Gae LaSalle and Joseph Suraci, his son-in-law, Michael LaSalle, daughter-in-law Carol Suraci, granddaughter Kristin Suraci and sister Angeline Suraci. His wife Caroline passed away in 2005.
Funeral services were held at St. Jude's Church in Mastic Beach.
Born in Calabria, Italy, Suraci came to the U.S. at nine months of age. After high school, he attended Manhattan College, from which he graduated at the top of his class with a business degree in 1938. Suraci then received a master's degree from Columbia University and subsequently became a certified public accountant (CPA).
In the 1950s and 1960s, he owned a chain of women's apparel stores in New Jersey and New York.
After he was forced to close due to competition from the burgeoning shopping centers and malls, Suraci became the comptroller of William A. White, a major real estate company, and later, the Director of Internal Audit at New York University. He continued in private practice as a CPA well into his 80s, when he fell ill.
Ever civic-minded, Suraci served as president of the Thompson Hill Civic Association, president of the Woodside Republican Club, and Cubmaster of Cub Pack 221.
He is best known, however, for leading a successful challenge for the New York State Assembly against the Republican organization in the 37th Assembly District, led by former State Senator Martin Knorr, when his son, Joseph Suraci, defeated Michael Matonis, the organization candidate, in 1982.
The elder Suraci was a driving force behind the United Republicans of Western Queens.
Among the many charitable acts performed by the club were the distribution of surplus food to the needy, annual holiday toy drives, and the donation of clothes to homeless veterans.