Being honored by one's local chamber of commerce as a Small Businessperson of the Year is already quite an accomplishment. Levittown resident John Tufarelli, a member of both the Levittown and East Meadow Chambers of Commerce, received the honor this year from both organizations. Tufarelli was presented with the awards during the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce 19th annual Small Businessperson and Legislative Breakfast held before a large crowd of over 600 people Oct. 24 at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Tufarelli, the 1st vice president of the East Meadow Chamber, is running for that same position in the Levittown Chamber during this year's elections, which are being held next Wednesday. He is currently the business relations committee chair for the Levittown chamber, a position in which he was asked to serve by President Barry S. Room.

"I asked him to be the committee chair ... because of his involvement and name recognition ... and he's done a great job," Room said. "John's been very active for a very long time in both Levittown and in East Meadow. We wanted to recognize his contributions in Levittown. We're proud of him for winning both awards."

Tufarelli served four years in the US Air Force Security Service during the Vietnam War. After his discharge he joined Green Bus Lines and became an inspector. Upon moving to Nassau County he became general manager for the Valley Transit Bus Company and ran Nassau County's Handicap Program. In 1991, Tufarelli made a career change to real estate, joining Prudential Long Island Realty and soon became manager of the East Meadow branch. He is presently with Century 21 American Homes, managing the start up of their sixth office in Levittown. He has also served as a board member for the Multiple Listing Service.

Since joining the East Meadow chamber, Tufarelli chaired their annual journal, started the first joint networking party with the Levittown chamber, which is approaching its fifth year. He co-chairs the chamber's annual holiday party with Kiwanis of East Meadow. This year he is chairing East Meadow's first Culinary Delights event. He has been an instructor for adult education at East Meadow High School for the past six years. In 1999, the chamber honored him with the Marvin Bernstein Award.

Tufarelli also donates his time at Levittown's annual festival and car show. He is a member of the Island Trees School Advisory Board "School to Career" program. He received the community service award at the annual recognition dinner of Levittown Public Schools and in 2002, he received the president's award from the Levittown Chamber of Commerce.

Tufarelli, as a director for the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow, received their distinguished service award. He donates his time gathering and distributing toys to the children at Kiwanis' annual holiday dinner on Christmas Day and delivers food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas, participates at Community Pride Day and the Kiwanis pancake breakfast. He participates in the Toys for Tots program, collecting donations in his office, which he will be doing again this year. His recreational pursuits include martial arts, golfing and hunting. Tufarelli is a resident of Levittown and father of three children: Angela, Rocky and John Jr.

"John is an all-around great guy and a good friend personally, to the chamber and to the community," Room noted. "He deserved [this award]."

The breakfast welcomed the Honorable Randy A. Daniels, secretary of state of NY, as its keynote speaker. It was sponsored by LIPA with a donation of $5,000 and Commerce Bank with a donation of $3,000, to which council members extended much gratitude.

Tufarelli said he felt humbled by being honored with this award from both chambers.

"I was amazed. You do things for the community just because that's what [you] do. You don't really expect to get something like this. To know that you are honored by all of the people that you work with in the chambers, it was definitely one of the biggest honors that I've ever received," he said.

Tufarelli added that he does things for the community, very simply, because he loves to.

"It's giving back to the community for all the things you get during the year," he said. "I consider myself lucky to be where I am at my time in life. I just feel like it's been time to give back to the community and that's what I've been doing [for the past several] years."