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Thomas Matteo: 4th Staten Island historian

Borough President James P. Molinaro has named Tottenville resident Thomas Matteo to be the fourth borough historian to serve Staten Island.

"Staten Island is a rich borough in history," Molinaro said. "We need somebody who can exemplify that, explain that."

Staten Island Advance/Irving SilversteinBorough President James Molinaro, right, and new borough historian Thomas Matteo talk at a press conference at Borough Hall.
Matteo, 58, succeeds Richard Dickenson, who served as borough historian from 1991 until his death last year.

Matteo said he was "humbled and honored" by the appointment, and said he would look to bring the Island's history "out of the dusty archives and into the light for the public to see, enjoy and learn."

He said one of his goals would be to create a digitized, online library of pictures and documents detailing borough history.

"Staten Island has been on the world stage since the Revolution," said Matteo, the former executive director of Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home.
Read entire article at Staten Island Advance