Scott Martella tragically died in 2016 at the age of 29.

Even from a young age, Scott’s talents were undeniable. In 2008, he became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Smithtown School Board at the age of 22. There, he helped to develop an environment that was academically challenging and socially fulfilling to the student body. He was a rising star in the New York State political sphere and was a dedicated public servant who impacted thousands of lives across Long Island and the state. Scott most recently served as Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s Director of Communications where he was the spokesman for the county executive and was responsible for the day-to-day communications operations of the county.

Prior to joining the county, Scott served as a member of New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration for nearly five years. From 2011-2015, Scott was the Suffolk County Representative for the governor, before being promoted to serve as the Long Island Regional Representative for the New York State Department of Labor from July 2015 to June 2016. Among his many accomplishments, while working for the state, Scott served as a key liaison to the governor during Superstorm Sandy. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Scott’s keen understanding of the region and unrelenting work ethic helped to provide much-needed assistance to the thousands of Long Islanders who were impacted by the unprecedented event. Scott additionally served as a policy advisor for the New York State Senate from 2009-2011 where he worked on issues affecting various communities throughout the state. Scott lived his life with the innate desire to change their world for the better, and the wisdom to know that he could not do it alone. It is for this purpose that he served as a mentor to so many of us and an incredibly positive influence in our lives. In a metaphor, Scott’s efforts to better his community, and the example he set while doing it, is the rising tide that raises all ships. It is incumbent upon us to continue his legacy by acting as individual beacons for this message. It is only apt that we, like Scott, better ourselves by bettering others and the community that surrounds us.