By Nicole Falco
Immediately upon his death in March, the village decided something special had to be done to honor DeNicolo, a deputy inspector with the Auxiliary. On Tuesday night, dozens gathered for the dedication ceremony to rename Verona Place directly behind the Waldinger Memorial Library as "Mike DeNicolo Way."
"I knew my dad was popular, but I had no idea what the extent of his popularity was," said his son, Joe DeNicolo, who traveled from Florida for the dedication. "I can't put into words what the village went through to do something like this for him."
Joe, his sister, Maryann Hill, and the dozens who assembled decided Verona Place was "absolutely perfect."
"That was his corner," Hill said. "I told my daughter, 'Make sure you tell your children and they tell their children [about Mike DeNicolo Way].'"
Hill said she also thought it fitting that the street sign included the Valley Stream Auxiliary Police Unit 108 shield.
"He and I started [the auxiliary] as a civilian defense in 1964," said Inspector John Carbonette, Valley Stream Auxiliary Police Unit 108. "In 1969 the county took us over. Ever since then we've been like two brothers."
Not only did DeNicolo raise his family with his late wife, Mary, just blocks away on Smith Street, but he was always very active in Village Hall, which is adjacent to the library.
"He spent all his time here. He was always involved with the village," Joe DeNicolo said.
Mike did more than work as a court officer and in security for Village Hall. Mayor Edward Cahill recalled an evening he found him laying tile in the ladies room in Village Hall, on his own time.
"I don't think any of us can stand, walk, drive by or even think of this area and not think of Mike. His presence is a constant: a happy, smiling, joking and laughing spirit in and around Village Hall and throughout Valley Stream. Mike is here. I am sure he is humbled by this gesture," Cahill said.
DeNicolo's importance to the community was further emphasized by those who came in his honor. In addition to family and friends, Mayor Cahill was joined by former mayors John DeGrace and Dominick Minerva, Town Councilman and former mayor and assemblyman James Darcy, Legislator Francis X. Becker, Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza, Village Trustees Joanne Antun and Joe Zabatta, and members of the Nassau County Police Department. Village Justice Robert Bogle, who could not attend, sent a letter expressing his strong support for the dedication.
"If he gave you a ticket, by the time you got done you'd be happy you met him," his son said.
Pictured above: From left retired Nassau County Police Deputy Commissioner Mel Kenny, Joe and Jeanette DeNicolo, Maryann Hill, Tony Golio, Legislator Francis X. Becker, retired Nassau County Police Inspector Larry Mulvey, Mayor Edward Cahill and Town Councilman Jim Darcy.
