Reverend Monsignor Leopold Andrew Arcese was the first Chaplain of the NYC Department of Sanitation. Arcese was born in Arpino, Italy on June 21, 1887. After arriving in United States, he attended Holy Cross College in Worcester MA and St. Francis College and St. John's University Seminary in Brooklyn. He was ordained 1911 and served at churches in Glen Cove and Huntington Long Island. He also founded St. Frances of Paola Church in Brooklyn. From 1931 to his retirement in 1966 he was pastor of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ozone Park. As pastor emeritus he remained in the community until his death on January 30, 1970. He was given Papal honors and the title of Right Reverend Monsignor in 1941.