'His Name Carried Weight In This Town:' Community Mourns Beloved Bellmore Mail Carrier, Farmingdale Man

BELLMORE, NY — Friends and loved ones are mourning the loss of Matthew Albanese, a Farmingdale resident and Bellmore Route 32 letter carrier, who passed away on Dec. 18.

His family, friends, coworkers, and community members paid their respects during his wake on Monday and at the Funeral Mass on Tuesday.

Close friend Matt Quercia said he wants everyone to know what a devoted husband and father to two young boys Albanese was, as well as how much he loved his mother and sister.

Quercia said Albanese had a lasting impression on everyone: "He filled any room he walked into."

Reflecting on their decades-long friendship, Quercia shared how much Albanese meant to him.

"He was a great friend, and how lucky I was to have known him for over 30 years," Quercia said. "His name carried weight in this town. He was everyone's protector, friend, and brother. I'll miss him forever and strive to be half the man he was."

Quercia said Albanese’s love for football was matched only by his pride in his community.

"He loved Florida State football almost as much as Farmingdale Football," he said. "He was so proud to be from Farmingdale."

Along with close friends and family, his fellow USPS coworkers paid their respects to him. His coworkers honored him in a drive-by procession outside of Chapey & Sons Funeral Home on Tuesday morning before Mass.

As a beloved Bellmore letter carrier, Albanese made a difference in people's lives. Cora Pandy, a Bellmore resident and customer on his route, said Albanese was such a friendly mail carrier.

"The first time I met Matt Albanese, he was delivering my mail, and in a happy, cheerful voice, he said, 'Hi, I'm Matt,'" she shared.

Reflecting on Albanese, she said that he was always generous and worked hard.

"Once I was trekking in some groceries, and I turned around and he had brought them all to my door for me," she said. "He was proficient at this work and never had a problem. No mail or package ever missing."

Pandy said that even from their brief interactions, Albanese shared how happy he was to be married and how deeply he loved his two sons.

"I will miss his friendly smile and being in the neighborhood," she said. "For that, he made an impact on my life."

A GoFundMe has been set up in his name, with more than $136k raised in donations for his family.

The GoFundMe organizer wrote:

"On December 18th, our community lost a titan of a man, and the Albanese family lost their world. Matt Albanese passed away far too soon, leaving a void that can never be filled.

To know Matt was to know a "Gentle Giant." Standing tall as a Farmingdale Football Hall of Famer, he carried that same strength and grit into every aspect of his life. Whether he was mentoring HS football players, cheering for FSU, or talking sports with anyone who would listen, Matt’s energy was infectious, and his heart was even bigger than his stature."

The organizer continued sharing his greatest achievement: his family.

"Above all his accolades, Matt’s greatest pride was his family. He was the devoted husband to Amanda and the ultimate role model to his two sons, Junior and Thomas. He lived for his boys, and his spirit will undoubtedly live on through them. He was also a beloved son, brother, cousin, uncle, and a friend adored by so many.

We are coming together to support Amanda, Junior, and Thomas during this unimaginably difficult time. All donations will go directly to the Albanese family to help with immediate expenses and to secure the future for his sons—the boys he loved more than life itself. Matt was full of life, laughter, and kindness. Let’s honor him by showing his family the same love he showed all of us. #8forever"

On the Tribute Archive, brought by Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, it was shared that Albanese was a longtime resident of Farmingdale, husband of Amanda, and father of two young boys.

The page shared:

"Matt was a Farmingdale Football Hall of Famer who helped shape the sporting community through his enthusiasm, record-breaking stats, and overall love of the game. He was a man defined by his deep devotion to his family and the many lives he touched with his laughter and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Matt Albanese’s GoFundMe to support The Albanese Brothers Future Scholarship Fund."