In a moving and emotional tribute, the Town of Brookhaven officially renamed Veterans Park in Blue Point to Anthony P. Mazzei Park, honoring the remarkable life and legacy of a true American hero. The late World War II veteran, former Brookhaven Town Police Officer, and lifelong Blue Point resident was commemorated in a ceremony attended by family, friends, veterans, and local officials.
Located on Blue Point Avenue, the now Anthony P. Mazzei Park stands as a living monument to a man whose courage and dedication to public service spanned battlefields, law enforcement, and decades of civic commitment. Mazzei, who passed away at age 83, was remembered for both his wartime heroism and enduring contributions to the community he loved.
Born in nearby Patchogue, Mazzei enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, serving as a Technical Sergeant. He flew ten combat missions aboard the famed Liberty Bell, a B-17 Flying Fortress. His final mission ended in tragedy when the aircraft was shot down over enemy territory. Captured by German forces, Mazzei spent seventeen grueling months as a prisoner of war in Stalag 17, one of the most notorious POW camps of the era.
Mazzei was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious aerial achievement, along with two Oak Leaf Clusters, a testament to multiple acts of bravery. After returning from war, he joined the Brookhaven Town Police Department, where he served with distinction before the force was merged into the Suffolk County Police Department. He was also a proud member of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the American Ex Prisoners of War, a national organization supporting former POWs and their families.
The park renaming ceremony held special meaning for Judge Timothy Mazzei, a New York State Supreme Court Justice and son of the honored Veteran. Timothy Mazzei, who once served on the Brookhaven Town Board and helped secure the eighteen-acre property with now-Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), was visibly moved by the tribute.
Beyond its serene trails and lush natural setting, the park features a granite monument etched with the names of Blue Point’s fallen heroes, preserving the memory of the community’s deep military heritage. That legacy now proudly includes Anthony P. Mazzei’s name.
A host of local officials attended the ceremony to honor Mazzei, including Councilmembers Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point), Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge), and Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville), along with Town Clerk Kevin LaValle (R-Selden), Receiver of Taxes Lou Marcoccia (R-East Setauket), and Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham). Also in attendance were Suffolk Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri, former Supervisor John LaMura (R), former Councilman Jim Tullo (R-Coram), and Joe Sauerwein, a sixty-year member of the Blue Point Fire Department.
Tributes were also offered by representatives of Congressmen Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) and Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), and County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), underscoring the profound respect Mazzei earned across all levels of government.
As the crowd gathered under clear blue skies, surrounded by the park’s tranquil greenery, the ceremony served as both a celebration of a life well-lived and a reminder of the values Anthony P. Mazzei embodied: bravery, service, sacrifice, and community.
His story, once shaped in the crucible of war and hardship, now takes its place in the heart of Blue Point, etched in stone, carried in memory, and forever honored by the community he helped protect and build.
