Anthony Cancellieri’s name has long been synonymous with service in Rockville Centre. Whether in Village Hall, a hospital, or quietly behind the scenes, his work consistently reflects a belief that strong communities are built through trust, compassion and action.
From guiding local government to helping transform South Shore healthcare, Cancellieri has devoted his career to improving the lives of those around him.
A former NYPD lieutenant, Rockville Centre village administrator and chief deputy Nassau County executive, Cancellieri has spent his professional life navigating government, policy, and public safety — always with people at the center of his decisions.
In recent years, his leadership as co-chairman of the board at Mount Sinai South Nassau has helped transform the hospital into a regional medical center, bringing advanced, life-saving care closer to home for thousands of Rockville Centre families. At the same time, his philanthropic work — most notably co-founding RVC Blue Speaks with his wife, Mary Lou — has made a lasting impact on individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families across Long Island.
And it is for that lifetime of service — to healthcare, public life, and the village — that Anthony Cancellieri has been selected as the 2025 Rockville Centre Herald Person of the Year.
A career rooted in public service
Cancellieri’s path to community leadership began in law enforcement and government, where he developed a reputation as a steady, thoughtful problem-solver. After serving with the NYPD, he went on to hold senior roles in New York City government, including deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance and assistant commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation.
He later became village administrator of Rockville Centre under then-Mayor Eugene J. Murray, a role that placed him at the heart of village operations and cemented his deep connection to the community.
That commitment was carried forward when he was named chief deputy county executive under Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, overseeing major initiatives and helping guide county government through complex challenges. He later joined Park Strategies, LLC, as a vice president, further expanding his experience across the public and private sectors.
Park Strategies was founded in 1999 by former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato to help organizations navigate public policy and business development.
“He’s a fantastic, caring person,” D’Amato said. “He loves his community, he does everything he can to help, he’s an activist at the local hospital, he works his tail off for South Nassau. There’s no one who cares more for the people around him than Anthony Cancellieri.”
Yet those who know Cancellieri say his résumé only tells part of the story.
“For more than 15 years, he’s been really very dedicated,” said Joe Calderone, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s senior vice president of corporate communications and development. “He’s got a lot of political and governmental and business experience as well as a really deep, deep well of contacts — and he’s used all of that to help advance improving healthcare on the South Shore, particularly at Mount Sinai South Nassau.”
Transforming healthcare close to home
At Mount Sinai South Nassau, Cancellieri has played a central role in the hospital’s evolution from a strong community hospital into a regional medical center.
“He spent thousands of hours as a volunteer board member, sitting on committees and helping to lead and guide us as we expanded,” Calderone said. “We were a community hospital — a very good community hospital — but he helped us become the go-to hospital on the South Shore of Nassau County.”
That transformation was driven by a simple but powerful idea: families should not have to travel long distances for advanced care.
“People sometimes had to travel to the city or up to the North Shore,” Calderone said. “Tony’s vision was to have families and patients be able to get tertiary-level, advanced care right here on the South Shore, and he really has dedicated himself to bringing that into reality.”
Cancellieri’s experience in government proved invaluable as the hospital navigated zoning, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges within a residential community. His relationships and credibility helped ensure that growth occurred in partnership with — not in opposition to — the surrounding neighborhood.
Leading with heart during crisis
Cancellieri’s leadership was perhaps most visible during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when uncertainty and fear dominated daily life.
“In the middle of COVID, when everyone was isolated, Tony wanted to make sure our frontline workers knew that the community was behind them,” Calderone recalled. “He helped organize a caravan outside the hospital — hundreds of cars driving by, beeping horns, holding signs of support. That moment really stood out. It was very meaningful to our staff.”
For many hospital employees, it was a reminder that their work mattered — and that their community was watching, grateful and united.
Advocacy beyond the hospital walls
Cancellieri’s dedication to service reaches far beyond healthcare. In 2018, he and Mary Lou, co-founded RVC Blue Speaks, Inc., a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to autism education, awareness, and support. The organization was inspired by the experience of their grandson, Louie, and a desire to create meaningful change close to home.
“They decided they wanted to do something to support Louie and kids like him,” said Dana Sanneman, vice president of public affairs and development at Mount Sinai and a founding board member of RVC Blue Speaks. “They put together this grassroots advocacy group that focuses on autism education and awareness.”
Since its founding, RVC Blue Speaks has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local autism initiatives and scholarships, with a deliberate focus on keeping resources on Long Island.
“They just feel very strongly about the importance of community, about giving back, about supporting those who are less fortunate,” Sanneman said. “It’s really been my honor to work with them on so many important projects.”
Through RVC Blue Speaks, Cancellieri has also helped bring autism-sensitivity training and calming equipment to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s emergency department, ensuring a more compassionate experience for pediatric patients on the spectrum and their families.
Family, relationships, and legacy
Those closest to Cancellieri often point first to his devotion to family. Married to Mary Lou for 55 years, he is the father of three children and grandfather of eight — roles he considers his greatest achievements.
“Family is number one,” Sanneman said. “Everything he does is very thoughtful and considerate.”
That same thoughtfulness defines how he engages with others.
“He’s managed to keep relationships with people for decades,” Sanneman added. “He just has a very easy way about him that people gravitate toward.”
Mayor Francis X. Murray, whose father worked closely with Cancellieri during his time as village administrator, echoed that sentiment. During the 38th Annual Mayor’s Golf and Dinner Classic on Sept. 29, Cancellieri received the Eugene J. Murray Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his public service.
“Tony embodies the very best of Rockville Centre,” Murray wrote in an email. “His decades of public service, his tireless leadership, and his heartfelt commitment to lifting up every member of our community makes him an extraordinary choice for Person of the Year.”
