Returning to my alma mater with Matilda Cuomo 52 26 JANUARY 13 - JANUARY 19, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP DECEMBER 8, 2016 WWW.QNS.COM Returning Success profi le:to Tom my Rudzewick,alma mater Maspeth with Federal Matilda Savings Cuomo CEO vschneps@ gmail.com vschneps@ gmail.com FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com THE COURIER SUN • JANUARY 12, 2017 27 Returning to my alma mater with Matilda Cuomo 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 It was a walk down Memory Lane as I made my way through the doors of my beloved James Madison High School in the Midwood section of Brooklyn to meet with the principal and former first lady Matilda Cuomo to engage the school in her mentoring program. For decades, beginning with her husband’s 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 Here I am with Matilda Cuomo, founder of Mentoring USA, and principal of James Madison High School Jodi Cohen. elevation to governor of New York State, Matilda Cuomo has devoted her life to being a fierce advocate for families and children. She created Mentoring USA which has grown into an international 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 Here I am with Matilda Cuomo, founder of Mentoring USA, and principal of James Madison High School Jodi Cohen. costume as he led the Memorial Day Parade in Maspeth, one of the largest in the city. “My dad,” Tom recalled with nostalgia Here I am with Matilda Cuomo, founder of Mentoring USA, and principal of James Madison High School Jodi Cohen. 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 movement, and has written books on the subject, and at 85 she's not slowing down. When she shared with me that she had engaged the principal of Midwood High School to create a mentoring program, in the Middle Village Relay for 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. program too. So, within days we had an appointment with Jodi Cohen, the principal of the school that has graduated four Nobel prize winners, United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and my beloved friend, now known as Judge Judy, plus Joel Zwick Tom (left) took the CEO mantle from his father, Ken. It was a walk down Memory Lane as I made my way through the doors of my beloved James Madison High School in the Midwood section of Brooklyn to meet with the principal and former fi rst lady Matilda Cuomo to engage the school in her mentoring program. For decades, beginning with her husband’s elevation to governor of New York State, Matilda Cuomo has devoted her life to being a fi erce advocate for families and children. She created Mentoring USA which has grown into an international movement, and has written books on the subject, and at 85 she's not slowing down. When she shared with me that she had engaged the principal of Midwood I told her my high school Madison was Midwood’s rival, and I'd like to visit there to let them learn about the mentoring High School to create a mentoring program, I told her my high school Madison was Midwood’s rival, and I'd like to visit there to let them learn about the mentoring program too. So, within days we had an appointment with Jodi Cohen, the principal of the school that has graduated four Nobel prize winners, United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and my beloved friend, now known as Judge Judy, plus Joel Zwick who directed the delightful “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” plus many television series, and presidential hopeful U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, to name just a few! But enough bragging about the past. As I walked through the sparkling clean, quiet halls, I tried to remember my three years there many decades before. I was thrilled to see the handsome, 1,500-seat auditorium where I played violin in the orchestra and sang my heart out in “Sing,” the interclass musical competition that lives on today. Each class competes against the other and now there is inter-high school “Sing,” a competition that has become a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. They still have Fidelitas, a community service honors club I created when I didn't get into Arista! Remarkable! But I was there to help my friend Matilda make her case to engage the students at Madison to become mentors to their classmates in lower grades. The idea would be for the juniors to mentor the freshmen and earn a letter of commendation from the governor to add to their college applications, and most of all to encourage each one’s growth. Hopefully, it will begin and the tireless Matilda Cuomo will see the fruit of her labor fulfi lled in the borough of her birth. VISITING GRACIE MANSION With holiday season parties fi lling every night, it was fun to visit Gracie Mansion at the mayor’s invitation to the press corps. The cold night found me checking in and going through security to enter the powder blue, crystal chandelier-lit ballroom. The 1799 building became the mayor’s oficial residence with Mayor Fiorello la Guardia in 1942 and sits majestically facing the East River with views of the Triboro Bridge in Carl Schurz Park at East 89th Street. It was handsomely restored to its elegant roots during Mayor Bloomberg’s term in o ce. I had visited him there for a breakfast meeting when he invited then-Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and then-Schools Chancellor Joel Klein to meet with a small group of weekly newspaper publishers. The room had stunning wallpaper murals of bucolic country gardens that made me feel transplanted back in time. The mayor makes the mansion his home now, so just a few public spaces were open the frosty December night. But it is a special feeling to be in a house that has so much history. It was a memorable night seeing the mayor walk the room to say hello. GOODBYE, MAX A man who walked the earth in our lifetime — and who made a di erence to our country by working on the Manhattan Project that changed history and also made a di erence in our communities, endowing dozens of life-changing, impactful organizations — passed away this week at 93. Max Kupferberg and his twin and two other brothers, the fi rst graduates of Queens College, never forgot where they came from. The family of seven children arrived from Romania in 1903, living in Flushing when it was mostly farmland. Having worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos as well as being involved in the project the four brothers founded a er their WWII service, which became a leading electronics manufacturing company Kepco, Max and his wife of 63 years, Thelma, donated $10 million to the Queens College Performing Arts Center. He and his brothers and their wives and families have supported more than 40 organizations in Queens and beyond. I loved what he said about his years at Queens College: "It taught me how to speak, how to read, how to understand — all the things that are most important in one’s life." It rings true today for the immigrants of the 21st century. We were proud to honor him as Philanthropist of the Year at the Kings of Queens, and his nephew and children continue to serve on many nonproit boards. I'm delighted to serve with Seth Kupferberg on the board of the Queens Museum. Max's legacy is in good hands. It was a walk down Memory Lane as I made my way through the doors of my beloved James Madison High School in the Midwood section of Brooklyn to meet with the principal and former first lady Matilda Cuomo to engage the school in her mentoring program. For decades, beginning with her husband’s elevation to governor of New York State, Matilda Cuomo has devoted her life to being a fierce advocate for families and children. She created Mentoring USA which has grown into an international movement, and has written books on the subject, and at 85 she's not slowing down. When she shared with me that she had engaged the principal of Midwood High School to create a mentoring program, I told her my high school Madison was Midwood’s rival, and I'd like to visit there to let them learn about the mentoring program too. So, within days we had an appointment with Jodi Cohen, the principal of the school that has graduated four Nobel prize winners, United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, U.S.Senator Chuck Schumer and my beloved friend, now known as Judge Judy, plus Joel Zwick who directed the delightful “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” plus many television series, and presidential hopeful U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, to name just a few! But enough bragging about the past. As I walked through the sparkling clean, quiet halls, I tried to remember my three years there many decades before. I was thrilled to see the handsome, 1,500-seat auditorium where I played violin in the orchestra and sang my heart out in “Sing,” the interclass musical competition that lives on today. Each class completes against the other and now there is inter-high school “Sing,” a competition that has become a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. They still have Fidelitas, a community service honors club I created when I didn't get into Arista! Remarkable! But I was there to help my friend Matilda make her case to engage the students at Madison to become mentors to their classmates in lower grades. The idea would be for the juniors to mentor the freshmen and earn a letter of commendation from the governor to add to their college applications, and most of all to encourage each one’s growth. Hopefully, it will begin and the tireless Matilda Cuomo will see the fruit of her labor fulfilled in the borough of her birth. VISITING GRACIE MANSION With holiday season parties filling every night, it was fun to visit Gracie Mansion at the mayor’s invitation to the press corps. The cold night found me checking in and going through security to enter the powder blue, crystal chandelier-lit ballroom. The 1799 building became the mayor’s official residence with Mayor Fiorello la Guardia in 1942 and sits majestically facing the East River with views of the Triboro Bridge in Carl Schurz Park at East 89th Street. It was handsomely restored to its elegant roots during Mayor Bloomberg’s term in office. I had visited him there for a breakfast meeting when he invited then-Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and then-Schools Chancellor Joel Klein to meet with a small group of weekly newspaper publishers. The room had stunning wallpaper murals of bucolic country gardens that made me feel transplanted back in time. The mayor makes the mansion his home now, so just a few public spaces were open the frosty December night. But it is a special feeling to be in a house that has so much history. It was a memorable night seeing the mayor walk the room to say hello. GOODBYE, MAX A man who walked the earth in our lifetime — and who made a difference to our country by working on the Manhattan Project that changed history and also made a difference in our communities, endowing dozens of life-changing, impactful organizations — passed away this week at 93. Max Kupferberg and his twin and two other brothers, the first graduates of Queens College, never forgot where they came from. The family of seven children arrived from Romania in 1903, living in Flushing when it was mostly farmland. Having worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos as well as being involved in the project the four brothers founded after their WWII service, which became a leading electronics manufacturing company Kepco, Max and his wife of 63 years, Thelma, donated $10 million to the Queens College Performing Arts Center. He and his brothers and their wives and families have supported more than 40 organizations in Queens and beyond. I loved what he said about his years at Queens College: "It taught me how to speak, how to read, how to understand — all the things that are most important in one’s life." It rings true today for the immigrants of the 21st We were proud to honor him as Philanthropist of the Year at the Kings of Queens, and his nephew and children continue to serve on many nonprofit boards. I'm delighted to serve with Seth Kupferberg on the board of the Queens Museum. Max's legacy is in good hands. Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS tweet me @vschneps With the mayor at Gracie Mansion The music program at James Madison High School is alive and well who directed the delightful “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” plus many television series, and presidential hopeful U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, to name just a few! But enough bragging about the past. As I walked through the sparkling clean, quiet halls, I tried to remember my three years there many decades before. I was thrilled to see the handsome, 1,500-seat auditorium where I played violin in the orchestra and sang my heart out in “Sing,” the interclass musical competition that lives on today. Each class completes against the other and now there is inter-high school “Sing,” a competition that has become a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. They still have Fidelitas, a community service honors club I created when I didn't get into Arista! Remarkable! But I was there to help my friend Matilda make her case to engage the students at Madison to become mentors to their classmates in lower grades. The idea would be for the juniors to mentor the freshmen and earn a letter of commendation from the governor to add to their college applications, and most of all to encourage each one’s growth. Hopefully, it will begin and the tireless Matilda Cuomo will see the fruit of her labor fulfilled in the borough of her birth. VISITING GRACIE MANSION With holiday season parties filling every night, it was fun to visit Gracie Mansion at the mayor’s invitation to the press corps. The cold night found me checking in and going through security to enter the powder blue, crystal chandelier-lit ballroom. The 1799 building became the mayor’s official residence with Mayor Fiorello la Guardia in 1942 and sits majestically facing the East River with views of the Triboro Bridge in Carl Schurz Park at East 89th Street. It was handsomely restored to its elegant roots during Mayor Bloomberg’s term in office. I had visited him there for a breakfast meeting when he invited then-Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and then-Schools Chancellor Joel Klein to meet with a small group of weekly newspaper publishers. The room had stunning wallpaper murals of bucolic country gardens that made me feel transplanted back in time. The mayor makes the mansion his home now, so just a few public spaces were open the frosty December night. But it is a special feeling to be in a house that has so much history. It was a memorable night seeing the mayor walk the room to say hello. GOODBYE, MAX A man who walked the earth in our lifetime — and who made a difference to our country by working on the Manhattan Project that changed history and also made a difference in our communities, endowing dozens of life-changing, impactful organizations — passed away this week at 93. Max Kupferberg and his twin and two other brothers, the first graduates of Queens College, never forgot where they came from. The family of seven children arrived from Romania in 1903, living in Flushing when it was mostly farmland. Having worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos as well as being involved in the project the four brothers founded after their WWII service, which became a leading electronics manufacturing company Kepco, Max and his wife of 63 years, Thelma, donated $10 million to the Queens College Performing Arts Center. He and his brothers and their wives and families have supported more than 40 organizations in Queens and beyond. I loved what he said about his years at Queens College: "It taught me how to speak, how to read, how to understand — all the things that are most important in one’s life." It rings true for the immigrants of the 21st century. We were proud to honor him as Philanthropist of the Year at the Kings of Queens, and his nephew and children continue to serve on many nonprofit boards. I'm delighted to serve with Seth Kupferberg on the board of the Queens Museum. Max's legacy is in good hands. Victoria’s Secrets Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS tweet me @vschneps With the mayor at Gracie Mansion The music program at James Madison High School is alive and well The music program at James Madison High School is alive and well With the mayor at Gracie Mansion
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