Capitol in Albany. Starting as a Revision Clerk/Proofreader, Joe moved on to become Deputy Clerk of the Assembly, Public Information
Officer, and finally, Director of Research. Tapped to switch to the Executive Branch, Joe was Special Assistant to two governors,
appointed Deputy Secretary of State with offices in the State Office Building in New York City opposite City Hall. His last appointment was
Deputy Director of the State Division of Veterans Affairs covering the New York Metropolitan Area. Leaving public service, Joe pursued
other work in not-for-profit organizations. Starting as first Executive Director of an Italian American umbrella organization, after increasing
its membership to more than 130 member organizations, Joe was tapped to coordinate the creation of a new multi-ethnic organization to
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. The new organization, known as the N.E.C.O. Foundation, the National Ethnic
Coalition of Organizations, elected Joe as its first President.
N.E.C.O. each year awards the prestigious, Congressionally-approved Ellis Island Medal of Honor to outstanding Americans of 60 different
ethnic and cultural backgrounds for their service to America. At the first Ellis Island Medal of Honor Awards ceremony, held first at Ellis
Island and then dinner at the Waldorf-Astoņa, 81 prominent Americans including Muhammad Ali, Donald Trump, and Joe DiMaggio
received the first medals. In 1991, after five years as President, Joe retired to live in Vero Beach.
However, before leaving New York, Joe raised in excess of $600,000 for the restoration of Ellis Island (where his parents first arrived from
Italy), and for the building of the Immigrant Wall of Honor on Ellis Island. The amount raised at the time was the largest of any not-for-profit
group including the Ford Foundation.
Another political involvement, and perhaps his last in New York, was Joe's association
with Rudy Giuliani. Unsure whether he, Rudy, wanted to run for Governor, for U.S.
Senator, or for Mayor of New York, Joe was Giuliani's `advance man" to arrange for
Rudy's attendance at a Lincoln Day celebration in the Capital District in Albany. Giuliani
- was well received by the leading politicians of the area and by the members of the press.
Rudy chose to run for Mayor-- the rest is history.
Before making Florida his permanent residence, Joe took on another business challenge.
In 1994 Joe created a Research and Development firm to find an alternative fuel to coal
and the other fossil fuels, namely oil and gas, used in the generation of electricity. Since each of these traditional fuels has advantages and
disadvantages as to supply, cost and environmental acceptability, Joe's challenge was to find a fuel that was cleaner and cheaper and with
unlimited supply and not dependent on foreign sources. After 10 years of test-fabricating with different materials and test-burning in power
and co-generation plants, Joe developed an alternative fuel from recovered and renewable energy sources with unlimited domestic supply.
This new fuel product is cleaner and cheaper than coal and from one-third to one-half the cost of gas and oil. Joe has copyrighted and
trademarked his new fuel and is turning over its production and sales to other associates of his company.
Retirement in Vero Beach with his lovely wife Audrey did not mean "time to play golf' to Joe. Although active in sports while growing up in
New York-Joe played stickball, boxball, handball, baseball, football and tennis--Joe decided instead to dedicate his time to working with
and for veterans, Although a 54-year member of the American Legion, Joe joined the Italian American War Veterans of the U.S.,
supporting all Post 3 Commanders in the fulfillment of their duties. Joe eventually became Post Commander, moved on to become active
on the state and national levels, and now serves as National Patriotic and Americanization Officer and Vice Chairman of the Washington,
D.C. Conference, Joe also is a member of the Veterans Council of Indian River County, serving as its Public Relations Officer.
Yes, Joe has one hobby-taking pictures"-or. as he calls himself-"a very amateurish amateur photographer." Joe likes to take photos
of veterans events and also festive events such as our annual Food Festival and other special occasions-it's his contribution as a
member.
After reading this abbreviated life story of Joe Martorana, one could say that he was a ~ack of all trades and master of none." Or that he
proved that hard work, perseverance, dedication and giving to others do not a master make, but perhaps set an example for others to
follow-as Joe did, following in his parents' and his brother Dominick's footsteps.
Now looking back at Joe's first job working in a stationery store and his last public service job working with veterans, perhaps it's
coincidence or destiny, today in his retirement in Vero Beach, Joe spends a lot of time in Staples, a stationery store--making copies of
photos to give to his friends,
The rest of his `free' time, Joe does what he loves best, working with and for veterans. ~What goes around comes around," Joe
Martorana's life story.
Face to Face with Destiny
Rudy Giuliani, Joe Martoraria
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