Earlier this year, Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles, presented funeral director and embalmer Anthony M. LiCausi with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his achievements, leadership qualities, credentials and successes.

With more than 35 years of experience, LiCausi has been associated with Robertaccio Funeral Home (Patchogue) since 1996 and is involved with approximately 700 funerals annually. An ordained minister, Licausi also frequently offers free prayer services at cemeteries to families of the deceased. He takes pride in never denying someone from seeing their deceased loved one due to their finances and has occasionally provided free services to parents whose child has died.

LiCausi is also a prominent business owner. As co-owner, he established Spider Bite Beer Company in 2008 and grew the business into a global operation before selling his share to his partner in 2019. Notably, the company has received two gold medals and was twice voted Best Brewery in New York State.

Invested in his community, he often speaks at area high schools to educate students about careers in the funeral industry. He is also a member, former president and Paul Harris Fellow of his local Rotary International. He has served on a local hospital board and as president of an advisory board club.

Interested in funeral service since high school, LiCausi earned a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from State University of New York in Farmingdale. He was subsequently certified as a funeral service practitioner, preplanning consultant and crematory operator.

A member of NFDA and the Cremation Association of North America, he recently received the Saint Charles Hospital Tree of Life Award for his bravery after contracting COVID-19, being placed on a ventilator for two weeks and surviving. During the height of the pandemic, LiCausi performed approximately 20 funerals each week. robertacciofuneralhome.com