In 1986 shortly after they were married Arnie & Rose moved to Ronkonkoma and joined St. Joseph’s Parish where he is still active today as a Eucharistic Minister. Arnold quickly got involved in the community joining the St. Regis Knights of Columbus that same year. In 1987 Arnie & Rose started their family and now have three wonderful children. Today, Arnie & Rose’s family is grown and is very much involved in Rotary. Rose joined Rotary in 2011, is the Youth Exchange Chair, RFE Co- Chair and District Secretary and Past President. His son Justin an Eagle Scout is the District Governor 2019-20 and has served as District Grants Chair and Rotaract Chair. His daughter Chelsea was charter President of her Interact Club a RLYA-alum and attended International RYLA in Montreal. As a teacher she started the first Interact Club in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. His daughter Taylor participated on a Short-Term Youth Exchange to Germany was Interact President, RYLA-alum and attended International RYLA in Australia. Both are now members of the District Passport club.
In 1983 Arnold founded his first company, Watermatic Irrigation, over the next decade he grew the company and sold it to begin a new business. In 1993 Arnie purchased a Commercial Cleaning account and started a small office cleaning business with 3 part time employees. Over the next 25 years this company evolved into Restoration Experts of NY, with its main office located in Ronkonkoma. He holds top restoration credentials and is a Master Restorer of Fire, Smoke & Water Damage.
Being the son of a Deacon, the importance of faith and service were impressed upon him from a young age. Arnie was a CYO soccer coach and a Scout Leader for ten years as the Chairman of St. Joseph’s Boy Scout Troop 272. He has been a member of the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce 25 years and during his tenure as President he started the Ronkonkoma Street Fair.
In 2000 Arnie was invited to join the Ronkonkoma Rotary Club and he served as Governor for District 7260 (Suffolk County) 2010-11 Arnie and his wife Rose have taken multiple trips to India to administer polio vaccinations and oversee a grant that equipped a medical clinic. Arnie has also gone on 12 humanitarian missions to Haiti to provide much needed water wells, medical equipment, satellite communications and solar panels in 4 different villages.
After his son’s friend, Andrea Giattino, was killed by a drunk driver while on their way home from a Rotary Event, Justin and his Rotary family founded The Simple Hope Foundation to combat drunk driving & substance abuse deaths. The Simple Hope Foundation works to make our roads safer by funding research, creating awareness and helping to “make drunk driving matter”.
Arnold is a recipient of Rotary International’s Service Above Award, he supports the Rotary Foundation as a major donor, Paul Harris society and Bequest society member.
Arnie’s passion of giving back to the community, locally as well as internationally, with his whole heart, his time, his talent, his leadership and his family is an inspirational source to everyone!!