A Tribute To The Kid From Wall Street

By Mary Sexton Moore

Let us go back to the ’40s. There were a lot of poor but happy kids living in my Huntington neighborhood on Wall Street. To the left of my home was a fish market, a small deli and an alley, where the Italian men played bocce ball. There was also something unheard of today, a rationing board where we got our rationing coupons for things that were considered luxuries then but are taken for granted now, like sugar and coffee. Across the street was the Salvation Army where we got most of our clothes except for shoes, which were also rationed. We had to make those last by putting cardboard in them.

One night, the bowling lanes and Herman Namer’s Horse Stable (where Waldbaums is today) had a fire. Although tragic for Mr. Namer, this event was very exciting for the kids in our sleepy little town, where we were mostly kept insulated by our parents from the horrors of World War II.

One of the kids I remember most was Lenny Totora. We attended St. Patrick’s School together, which is still there today. He would often ask us kids, “Ya see this ear?” and show us an ear that was red from Sister Mary Monica pulling on it again. There was also Father Murray’s bazaar that we looked forward to in the summertime. It was a much more innocent time and the naughtiest thing a kid could be caught doing was sneaking kisses behind the bazaar tents.

Years later, my classmates and I were proud to learn that Lenny had joined the United States Army and served in Korea as a photographer and made photography his life’s work. He was very good at it, as anyone will tell you who visited his store, L&L Camera. He remained a part of St. Patrick’s Church his whole life as a lector and a member of the church choir.

Last week, God called him home and he will be missed dearly by all Huntingtontonians. “Well done good and faithful servant.” I am sure Lenny will be at the gate looking for us all, Saint Patrick’s Class of 1945. With a smile and a wink he’ll ask us once again, “Ya see this ear?”

Honoring ‘Johnny Baseball’
Scholarship to salute sports enthusiast

By Danny Schrafel/dschrafel@longislandernews.com

Huntington resident John LoPipero’s love for sports, particularly Elwood-John Glenn athletics, earned him the nickname “Johnny Baseball.” Now, his family is starting a scholarship fund in his name to support a student with the same fervent devotion to athletics.

LoPipero, of Huntington, died on Dec. 15, 2009. He was 59.

Born on Aug. 11, 1950 in Brooklyn, LoPipero moved to East Northport when he was in his early teens. A 1969 graduate of John Glenn High School, he met his future wife, Terry, during their junior year, and they became high school sweethearts.

Another love blossomed at Glenn – LoPipero’s love of sports. He played tight end for the football team and catcher on the baseball team. He was captain on both teams and also played basketball.

“He always had an interest in sports. It continued to grow,” his daughter, Andrea, 25, of Huntington, said.

After graduating in 1971 from St. Joseph’s Junior College in Florida, where he was the catcher for the baseball team, LoPipero moved to Central Islip for a few years and began working with Nesconset Carting, which he co-owned with his father and brother. LoPipero later moved to Huntington, after he married, to raise his family. After Nesconset Carting was sold, he became account manager for roll-off sales for Winters Bros. Carting.

“He was very knowledgeable about that business. He dealt with so many people everyday,” his daughter said.

Along the way, LoPipero picked up many nicknames – “Johnny Baseball” referred to his love of sports, while “Johnny Garbage” noted his expertise in the garbage industry. “The Mayor” referred to his gregarious, outgoing nature.

The diehard Yankees fan would also make an indelible mark on Glenn youth athletics. He started the Elwood Phillies baseball team in 1995 and became a part of Blue Jays baseball and the John Glenn Football Alumni Association. In addition to supporting his children’s athletic endeavors, he was also known for going to Elwood games regardless of whether he knew anybody on the team.

“Even when nobody was in the school, he was at the games,” Andrea said. “He was very supportive of all the teams. You would find him on the bench with the kids, or on the field with the coaches, even if he knew no one on the team.”

That’s why the decision to start a scholarship fund – the Johnny Baseball Memorial Scholarship – came to be, his daughter said. The scholarship will benefit an Elwood High School senior who has a passion for sports and is involed in the community.

LoPipero is survived by his wife, daughter, son, Michael and his wife, Sara of Torre San Patrizio, Italy; parents, Grace and Michael LoPipero of East Northport; brother, Patrick and his wife, Lisa of Kings Park; brothers-in-law Ronald DePace and his wife, Laura of Newburgh, N.Y. and Albert DePace and his wife, Deborah of East Northport; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Dec. 21 at St. Francis of Assisi R.C. Church in Greenlawn, followed by burial at Holy Rood Cemetery, with arrangements by Brueggemann Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Scholarship Fund can be sent to the Elwood School District, 100 Kenneth Ave., Greenlawn, NY 11740.

Arthur Schneier
Arthur Schneier died on March 1 of a heart attack, his family said. He was 89.
Schneier grew up in College Point, where he helped with his family’s florist business. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps who served during World War II, Schneier later graduated from Queens College and became an auditor for the New York State Department of Insurance.

After he retired, he moved from Hollis, Queens to New Hyde Park, then Huntington, after he remarried following his first wife’s death.

An avid hiker, he completed the Appalachian Trail in consecutive day hikes, was an active conservationist and self-taught naturalist, his family said.

Schneier is survived by his wife, Jean Hinchey Schneier, daughters, Carol and Joan, stepchildren Glenn and Linnell, and three grandchildren. He was predeceased in death by his first wife, Lillian, and daughter, Linda.

Visitation and a memorial service are scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. on March 5 at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Nature Conservancy.