22 JANUARY 6 - JANUARY 12, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP 26 DECEMBER 8, 2016 Success A new profi le:year Tom Rudzewick,and RIDGEWOOD the TIMES Maspeth torch Federal is Savings passed WWW.QNS.COM CEO vschneps@ gmail.com Banking for Tom Rudzewick is a family a air. His father, Ken, started at Maspeth Federal Savings Bank as a teller when he was 19 years old (his mom worked there, too) and rose through the ranks to be CEO and president. Now, his son Tom leads the bank and Tom’s brother, Glenn, heads the lending division. Maspeth is proud of its namesake bank, and the bank is so grateful to its depositors and clients they even celebrate an annual “Smile on Maspeth Day.” For‹70 years, the bank—founded by a local liquor store owner—has grown but never lost sight of its roots. This has served the bank well. I met recently with Tom, who was appointed CEO and took the mantle from his well-known and respected dad, Ken. “I learned everything I know from my dad, coming to work with him as a child and always feeling my destiny was with the bank, too,” he said with a broad smile. He’s a man at ease in his windowed o” ce overlooking busy Grand Avenue in Maspeth. “We like to compare ourselves to the rabbit and the hare. We are slow but steady in our growth and that has served us well during down cycles,” he shared. I remember the photos of Ken dressed in full American revolutionary costume as he led the Memorial Day Parade in Maspeth, one of the largest in the city. “My dad,” Tom recalled with nostalgia in his voice, “believed in our bank being active in the community. In fact, my grandmother marched in the parade, and that tradition has continued.” Sadly, Tom lost his sister, Jill, a™ er a seven-year battle with breast‹cancer, but he turned his pain into a passion to help others. The bank organizes and sends hundreds of employees to participate in the Middle Village Relay for Former Congressman Steve Israel passes his copy of the Constitution and House Rules to his successor, Tom Suozzi Life. Jill lives on through their work, helping many in their struggle. Although the bank donates money to many causes, its strength has been its mission to give back through volunteering with many groups in the communities it serves. Tom’s chief operating o” cer, David Daraio, serves as the president of the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce, keeping the pulse of the community and businesses serving it. “As a community bank, I take seriously my role to be part of the community. We have fi ve branches in Queens and Nassau County and o er online banking, extending our footprint,” Tom explained. He talked with pride about the renovations at the branches that now o er free co ee, a children’s coloring station and free Wi-Fi. There are also expansion plans for the next several years. Tom lives the Maspeth Savings Bank’s motto that says, “We treat you like family.” The CEO is married and is the proud father of son Nicholas, who is a passionate hockey player. Keeping to his belief in getting involved, Tom Rudzewick volunteers and heads his son’s league. It’s all part of his philosophy of giving back. With the new Trump administration coming into o” ce, Rudzewick expects, optimistically, to continue his lobbying for changes in the regulatory procedures in place now that restrict the bank’s ability to lend. “We are well positioned to help the new immigrant groups fulfi ll their dream of home ownership just like my grandfather did decades ago,” he explained. Hearing his success story, I believe he will prevail and build success for others, too! With the 70th anniversary of the bank, long a champion of the community, its slow but steady growth is sure to serve it well into the future because it keeps drawing depositors from childhood to old age, and it does business the old-fashioned way, caring for its clients! Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS tweet me @vschneps Maspeth Federal Savings Bank is a family a air; here's Tom, Glenn and Ken Rudzewick at a recent volunteer event. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Debbie Markell- Kleinert, Warren Schreiber and Matt Silverstein representing Queens Tom (left) took the CEO mantle from his father, Ken. At high noon on New Year’s Day, before a standing-room-only crowd at Glen Cove City Hall, former Congressman Steve Israel passed the torch to his successor on Capitol Hill, Tom Suozzi, in a moving and bittersweet ceremony. The new congressman’s father, Joseph, wasn’t there to see him sworn in, but Tom made his family proud! With a constituency that runs from Su olk County’s north shore into Nassau County and then continues into Little Neck, Douglaston, Bayside and Whitestone, the overfl owing crowd refl ected the diversity of the district. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz warmly welcomed the people there to celebrate new Congressman Suozzi and spoke about Queens’ diversity. She went on to introduce local pastors who refl ect the many faiths celebrated in Suozzi’s district. The spiritual leaders represented St. Rocco’s Church, the Chabad of Brookville, Calvary AME Church, BAPS Hindu Temple and the Islamic Center of Long Island. As I looked around the packed room, the diversity of those in attendance refl ected the district and, interestingly, the new congressman and religious leaders all shared the same powerful message: love thy neighbor! Babylon’s Sal Valentinetti was invited to sing, but the TV star claimed he had a sore throat from all the gigs he’s had the past few weeks. A er a brief speech, he fi nally did sing one verse of “That’s America to Me.” Finally, it was time for Congressman Israel, who opted not to seek re-election in the Third Congressional District last year, to o er some advice to Suozzi. I loved how he generously spoke of Suozzi’s background, fi rst as Glen Cove mayor and later as Nassau County executive. Israel remarked that Suozzi’s job was always listening to his constituents, even on something minor like a pothole in need of repair, and making sure that the job gets done. That, Israel said, is what being in Congress is all about: always helping those in need, from the disabled child to the needy senior, and listening to the people. Israel shared that his greatest moment in Congress was taking the oath of o ce, swearing to protect and defend the Constitution. He then handed over to Suozzi his copy of the Constitution and the Rules of the House that had sat on his desk for 16 years while in Congress. When he took the microphone, Suozzi spoke extemporaneously in describing the challenges of General George Washington as he faced defeat. All seemed lost a er su ering defeats in New York; even his chief of sta turned against him and tried to have him replaced. With his depleted army, he was forced to retreat, but Washington was determined to persevere. He would lead his Continental Army across the ice-illed Delaware River on Christmas Night of 1776, surprising the British Army and winning the Battle of Trenton, a major turning point in the American Revolution. It was then that Thomas Paine, the renowned patriot and author of “Common Sense,” wrote that “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Suozzi told his rapt audience, “American history has its ups and downs, but we will never give up our values. We will work together to solve problems and aid the people in need.” What a profound way to begin a new year and a new era. I o er Congressman Suozzi my best wishes for his great success, which will be ours as well! Holiday reunion of my friends who I traveled to China with last year at Pine Court in Douglaston. Among those pictured: Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, Mita Alam, co-hosts Richard and Marilyn Chuk, co-hosts Lilly and Long Deng, Mr. and Mrs. Derek Law and friends. Happy new year from my children to all of you!
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