Rufrano, Mathew J

A Bethpage veterans activist has been named the new Nassau Veterans Agency director. County Executive Edward Mangano announced his choice on January 5, 2010, saying Rufrano's 25 year involvement in veterans issues made him a good fit.

"The county's Veterans Service Agency is a key source for all of our veterans and will be a vital part of my administration," Mangano said. "Mathew Rufrano brings many years of experience in veterans service and I welcome him to our team."

Mathew, 66, a production manager at Hauppauge textile plant, takes office on January 15. He is a former staff sergeant who left the Air Force in 1970, and has been an activist in the vetrans community for more than 25 years.

He is a founding office with Nassau Chapter #82 of Vietnam Veterans of America, and was a founding member of the Town of Oyster Bay's Veterans Advisory Council.

He said his greatest challenge will be to encourage young veterans fo Iraq and Afghanistan to make use of Veterans services to which they are entitled.

Below information taken from Veterans Advisory Newsletter A publication of the Town of Oyster Bay - Fall 2010

Mathew Rufrano is a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U. S. Air Force as a Staff Sergeant from 1964 to 1970. Matt was a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans Resource Center in Hicksville and of the Town of Oyster Bay's Veteran Advisory Council. Matt has been instrumental in helping countless Veterans and Veterans Organizations in numerous ways, as well as helping to reach out to veterans and their families for over 25 years. Additionally, Matt has publicized veterans causes and deeds through the thousands of photos he has taken and the many hundreds of articles and captioned photos he has had published in local newspapers. His commitment to United States Veterans is exemplary and extraordinary. Matt is the recipient of the Life Time Achievement Award from the Town of Oyster Bay at their "Salute to America" program - summer 2010.