Dix Hills Park Renamed For Woman Supervisor And Veteran Husband

DIX HILLS, NY — Welcome to Antonia "Toni" P. Rettaliata-Tepe And Philip H. Tepe Dix Hills Park.

Town of Huntington officials gathered at the park on Sunday for a dedication ceremony officially renaming the park after Huntington's first and only woman town supervisor to date, Antonia "Toni" P. Rettaliata-Tepe, and her beloved husband, Vietnam veteran, commissioner and ex-chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department, Philip H. Tepe.

"A woman of substance, trailblazing grit and fortitude, Supervisor Toni Rettaliata's achievements in Town office far exceed the single history-making, glass ceiling-breaking achievement of becoming our first woman Town Supervisor, and it should be noted how an effective Town leader she was in what was then a very short two-year term, and without a supportive majority on the Town Board!" Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated. "Her partner in life for the past two decades, Phil Tepe, was an American patriot and life-long public servant who dedicated his life to our community. Dix Hills was the hamlet Toni and Phil called home for many years and this family park dedication is a fitting tribute to their legacies of service, love of community and family."

Video of the ceremony can be watched below.

On Oct. 20, 2020, what would have been the 76th birthday of Antonia, the town board renamed Dix Hills Park in memory of her and her husband, Philip.

Antonia died of cancer on April 8, 2020, just 19 days after her husband died unexpectedly.

Born Antonia Patricia Bifulco in Manhattan on Oct. 20, 1944, to Pasquale Bifulco and Mary (Finello) Bifulco, "Toni" was raised in Huntington and graduated from Huntington High School. She went on to attend Katherine Gibbs School in Melville and work as an administrative assistant in the Suffolk County courts.

After marrying John B. Rettaliata, Jr., Toni ran for elected office under her married name, Toni Rettaliata, and became the third and last woman to date to ever hold the office of New York State Assemblymember from the Town of Huntington.

She followed in the footsteps of Huntington suffragist Ida Bunce Sammis, the first woman to ever serve in the New York State Assembly, and succeeded Mary Rose McGee in the 8th Assembly District (1979-1982), then after redistricting, in the 10th Assembly District (1983–1987).

Assemblywoman Rettaliata notably secured the first $31,000 in funding that allowed former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia to build the award-winning and history-making Huntington Town Clerk’s Archives and Records Center, now named for the former and longest-serving Town Clerk.

Town Clerk Andrew Raia said he is very proud of his relationship with Toni.

"She was a lifelong friend, mentor, and an inspirational pioneer when it came to women in elected government positions, she will sorely be missed," Raia said. "Phil Tepe taught me all about the Brotherhood of Volunteer Firefighters and the dedication and commitment that they have to protect and serve the community. It is my hope that for generations to come people entering Dix Hills Park will take a moment to google Toni and Phil Tepe and learn what an inspiration they were to our community."

In 1987, Toni Rettaliata was elected Town of Huntington supervisor and served the then two-year term as the first and only woman to ever hold the office (1988-1989). She was responsible for the formation of the Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board and began the project to build Veteran’s Plaza on the front lawn of Huntington Town Hall.

Supervisor Rettaliata established the Town of Huntington Refuse District #3, the Special Election for which had failed under a prior administration. Refuse District #3 was approved by residents under Rettaliata's leadership due to the transparency and open lines of communication her administration established with residents, even hiring two staff members in the Town Clerk's office to answer phone calls. The creation of this Refuse District allowed refuse charges to be included in the resident's property tax bills instead of paying a monthly bill from a carter.

Supervisor Rettaliata also created a Division of Constituent Services under her office to take calls from residents. She had a bus that would travel to different parts of the town to respond to various constituent issues. She also resurrected the Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program.

Toni launched the adoption of resolutions to create a four-year term for Town Supervisor and Highway Superintendent, which passed and took effect after her two-year term in office.

Toni remarried in 2000 to Phil Tepe. Toni Tepe was elected chairman of the Huntington Republican Committee in 2006 and served as its leader until her death.

Former Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, who served with Toni when she was supervisor, said she was honored to speak at the renaming of Dix Hills Park.

"Toni and Phil were dedicated to our Town," she said. "I knew Toni for over 45 years. She cared for the residents of Huntington and when she was supervisor, she instituted numerous programs to benefit them, many are still in existence. Phil’s commitment to the Fire Service is unparalleled. Toni and Phil are gone, but they are not forgotten."

Philip H. Tepe, born in Rockville Centre on Jan. 15, 1949, and raised in Dix Hills, was an American patriot with decades of service to his country and community as a Vietnam Combat Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Nathan Hale Post #1469, and a member of the Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board, which his future wife established during her time as town supervisor. He also served as co-chairman of its Vietnam Veterans Committee.

Phil Tepe served as a Suffolk County deputy fire coordinator, a Town of Huntington fire marshal and was a great leader in his own right, most recently serving as commissioner of the Dix Hills Fire District, of which he was an ex-Chief, Badge #207 and 52-year member of Engine Company 2

When Phil died, the Tepe family asked those wishing to honor Phil to make a donation in his name to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. Terry Farrell was one of Phil’s best friends and in the years after 9/11, Phil worked closely with the Farrell Brothers and did many great things for firefighters and fire departments across the country, according to the town.

Brett Tepe, son of the Tepes, also following in his father’s footsteps as first assistant chief of the Dix Hills Fire Department, spoke on behalf of the Tepe family.

"The Tepe family is honored and humbled to have Dix Hills Park dedicated in honor of our parents, Phil And Toni," he said. "It is a place where future generations of our family and countless Huntington residents may visit and appreciate the best that Huntington has to offer. As it will now bear the name of two of the most dedicated town residents, the park will stand as a reflection of the great things Phil and Toni always imagined for Huntington and worked so passionately to achieve."