Ralph J. Lamberti (born November 14, 1934) is an American politician who is a member of the Democratic Party, and held the office of borough president of Staten Island, New York from 1984 to 1989. Early life Ralph J. Lamberti was born and raised in the West Brighton section of Staten Island. His grandparents settled in Staten Island shortly after arriving from Cava de' Tirreni, Italy, in 1899. In the late 1940s, Lamberti attended Curtis High School and played football under Coach Andrew Barberi, who is considered one of the greatest football coaches in Staten Island history. Lamberti also attended Wagner College and the College of Staten Island. From 1955 to 1957, Lamberti was enlisted in the United States Army, and was stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia. Career Public service (1957–1984) Lamberti held many roles in public service, in 1961 he was named acting assistant director of the Island office of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and was later appointed confidential assistant to the Motor Vehicles commissioner and the department's acting director of investigation. In 1965, Lamberti ran as the Republican candidate for the state Assembly, but withdrew before the election. In the mid-1960s, Lamberti became Business Administrator of New York State's Narcotics Control Center in Staten Island, a facility which in 1976 became the Arthur Kill Correctional Facility. In 1972 he was appointed administrator to Staten Island Borough President Robert T. Connor, and switched to the Democratic Party in 1973. The following year Lamberti was appointed as Deputy Borough President of Staten Island by Connor, a position he held until 1984. In 1976, Lamberti was the Democratic candidate for New York State Senate 24th District and lost to incumbent state Sen. John Marchi. In 1977, he was re-appointed Deputy Borough President of Staten Island by Anthony Gaeta. Borough President (1984–1989) On November 10, 1984, Lamberti was sworn in as the 12th Borough President of Staten Island. In the ceremony he noted "My grandfather dug ditches and corked pipes for the water department ... Now, a century later, his grandson [has become] president of the borough he so cherished." As Borough President, Lamberti created the "Harmony Street Fair," an annual celebration of the Island's growing ethnic diversity. Lamberti also created the action center, where members of his staff were assigned to take complaints about the city government from the public, and he was the first to donate funds