47. Lawrence C. Levy

This Pulitzer Prize finalist was named the only senior editorial writer for Newsday before becoming the head of the new Hofstra center last year. He joined the LI daily in 1977 as a local reporter and later served as assistant Long Island editor, Nassau County bureau chief and an Albany and Washington correspondent. Levy, who grew up in the suburbs, dedicated his career as a columnist and journalist to informing suburbanites on Long Island and throughout the country about important issues such as politics, taxes, land use, education and healthcare. Few have the sharp experience and insight of this insider, who’s now been busted loose. Heaven help us all.­­­­