Honoree-
Matilda Tazzi

In 1958, on the advice of a high school teacher, Matilda Tazzi came to the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University in hopes of finding a job. There was an opening in Office Services and Mary M. Lai, then director of finance and facility services, offered it to her. Forty two years later, Ms. Tazzi is University director of printing and mailing services, still working hard for the University, “working with good people” and “working for the best — Mary M. Lai.”

Ms. Tazzi’s career and responsibilities grew as the University grew. She started out in an office with mimeographs, small copiers and addressographs. When the University Center moved to Brookville, so did Ms. Tazzi. And when an offset press was installed in the basement office there, she was the first to operate it. In 1979, as C.W. Post continued to expand, Matilda became head of Office Services at that campus, then took over the mail and finally achieved her present University- wide position.

Today, she is in charge of a department that is a whirring, chugging cacophony of sophisticated presses and copiers; the latest is the Xerox Docutech, a high volume copier that took the place of several presses. She trains and supervises the staff, turns out large volume mailings, produces classroom work and maintains courier service for all campuses.

Efficient, straightforward and firm, she will, with embarrassment, brush away praise. Suffice to say, she has come a long way from the mimeograph; in fact, Matilda Tazzi herself is the latest, greatest model.

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