Levittown Property Owner’s Association Bids Farewell To Late Member

By Chris Boyle.

Husband and wife Vladimir and Daphne Rus had been members of the Property Owner's Association for 35 years, and according to Vice President Tom Caro, “Vlad” had tragically and unexpectedly passed away in his sleep the night before Tuesday’s meeting. 

LPOA President Jim Morrow expressed his sorrow at the passing of a long-time member who, drawing upon his many years of experience as a lawyer and a teacher, had done a great deal to help improve the quality of life for Levittown residents. 

“We’ve had instances in the past where we needed to take legal action to make changes, but unfortunately, we don’t really have the money to pay for it,” he said. “However, Vlad, along with his son’s law firm, took of a case of ours, involving an issue with Motor Parkway, to the Appellate Court pro bono, and we won.”

 “Getting the news about Vlad’s passing just hit me right between the eyes,” Morrow continued. “I knew he was getting older, but when it comes...no one expects it. He was a wonderful person.”

Jonathan C. Clarke, a candidate currently running for the Nassau County Legislature’s 15th District against incumbent Dennis Dunne, attended the meeting after Dunne himself had declined an offer extended by the Property Owner’s Association to speak there.

Clarke, who previously worked in the Nassau County Attorney’s Office, proceeded to introduce himself to the attendees at the meeting, but first, he gave praise of sorts to Dunne, his opponent in the Legislature race.

“I think Dennis Dunne has done a great, great job, but I think he’s recently begun to slip,” he said. “The entire nation is hurting from the economic downturn, but it’s hitting here more. I think the people are ready for someone who’ll fight for Levittown,Wantagh, and this area, and I’m the one to do it.”

Attorney Ethan Irwin also gave an update on his efforts on his efforts to have the Property Owner’s Association Federally recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a Not-For-Profit organization, otherwise known as “501C3” status.

Currently the group is recognized as a Not-For-Profit by the State of New York only, but Irwin’s bid for the Association’s Federal status is indented to aid them in acquiring grant money to be used to investigate the infamous Grumman toxic plume brought about by years of improper waste disposal at the company’s former Bethpage facility. The plume is currently threatening local drinking water supplies, and Irwin said that the LPOA's goal is to do what they can to stop it.

“The next hurdle to becoming a Not-For-Profit is to supply the IRS with the names of all of our board members,” he said. “In other words, the President, Vice-President, people who can officially make decisions or sign off on things. We’re looking into that now. After that, we’ll be ready to move onto the next step for 501C3 status.”