INTRODUCTION
by Dianne Santos
B
ack in 1960 when The Noteworthy
Company was a fledgling business
and employed only seven people, I
interviewed for an office position. Even back
then, it was immediately apparent to me that
Tom Constantino was a very unusual man.
Over the years, I had a first-hand opportunity
to see how multi-faceted the man was. Tom had a
zest for everything that came his way, whether
it was an opportunity or a problem. He met
them both head-on. Insatiable with his energy
and drive, he worked endless hours to build his
business. He always said, “inch by inch it’s a
cinch; yard by yard it’s awfully hard.” And inch
by inch he moved the company along. At the
end of every year he would sit back and reflect,
and then write down his resolutions for the new
year. Tom always had a goal; he challenged
himself and was relentless in pursuing his many
dreams.
Although his love of business was paramount,
there was another, softer side to the man. A
dedicated son, he spoke of his mother in
almost reverent tones. He appreciated the
beauty of nature; he found time to take oil
painting lessons, wrote poetry, had a soft spot
for animals (he even led a publicity campaign
defending the Grand Canyon burros) and
genuinely cared about his employees. There was
always time for a laugh, time for a prayer, time
to spend with friends.
Dianne Santos and Tom Constantino
Tom had a deep appreciation of what had
come before him; he loved antiques and old
buildings. If anyone could breathe new life into
an old building, he could. Aesthetics were
always important to Tom, and this was reflected
in both the office and manufacturing plants.
Holidays were special to Tom, and he enjoyed
throwing a party; even the most ominous event
could evolve into a major celebration. He truly
enjoyed people from all walks of life. Where
else would one meet a newly ordained Native
American Bishop, a breeder of Jack Russell
terriers, a winemaker from the Finger Lakes
region, a sculptor of a religious statue to be
placed in the Vatican gardens or a wandering
guitarist who told donkey tales? Well, working
for Tom Constantino, I experienced all those
introductions and many more. Variety sure was
the order of the day.
I’m very honored Carol has given me the
opportunity to write this introduction. Although
I could go into depth about Tom’s multi-faceted
personality, the letters from various friends and
associates provide the reader with an inside view
from different perspectives. In describing his or
her relationship with Tom, each writer captures
the many interests Tom had. There is one
thing, however, that we all have in common; we
are all richer for having experienced the
uniqueness of this man.
1
 BASIC BUSINESS BELIEFS
by Tom Cummings
om Constantino was a self-made
business man. He possessed the
entrepenural spirit and a belief and
understanding of the free enterprise system that
is seldom found in one individual. His drive,
zeal and belief in the litterbag and the
advertising specialty industry provided the
impetus for the growth in Noteworthy. Beyond
all of this, Tom developed over the years a
unique set of business precepts. These ideas
and beliefs are not normally found in
management text books or discussed in
advanced college classrooms.
Few business people have heard these
BUSINESS PRECEPTS
• In pricing, don’t be a hog.
• Whether you lease or whether you buy, you
pay the price to occupy.
• Don’t promote controversy.
• A good businessman must be a student of
letters.
• Do a lot with a little.
• There is a “key” to every building and when
you find that “key” you can best utilize the
building.
• In establishing new product pricing, treat the
volume considerations as though you have a
real piece of action.
• You don’t need credit if you have the cash.
• Inch by inch it’s a cinch. Yard by yard, it’s
very hard.
• Always hang around with people smarter than
you.
• Reach for the stars and you’ll get a little
stardust.
2
concepts discussed in management meetings or
reverberated in boardrooms of major
conglomerates.
Those principles are basically homegrown and
earthy ideas that worked well for Tom in the
evolution of Noteworthy. Tom, being a mentor
of many management people in his lifetime,
often passed on these thoughts.
It is our belief that these thoughts that Tom
used so well are worthy of outlining here to
develop a better understanding of Tom
Constantino, the man, the manager, the
entrepreneur.
• Build on strengths.
• What the mind can conceive, the body can
achieve.
• Be a man before being a businessman.
• In business, it is important to practice the
selfish act of giving.
• The donkey should set an example for us in
business in terms of quality of character,
keenness of hearing, (listening skills) and sense
of direction and purpose.
• Don’t be a know-it-all; be a do-it-all.
• Look for the good in people and it will be
there.
• I’m like the donkey – a beast of burden to
serve mankind.
• The only promise that I make is that I make
no promises.
• Seek much, need little and you will always
have a lot.
 NEW YORK STATE
SMALL BUSINESS PERSON
OF THE YEAR AWARD

F riends and colleagues admired Tom

Constantino from the beginning for
his unique blend of business sense,
drive, compassion and love. In 1988, the state
and federal governments showed that they too
as note pads, auto floor mats, book jackets,
coloring books, activity books, postcards and
other items.

recognized these qualities in Tom. The U.S.

Small Business Administration honored him in
March of that year with its New York State
Small Business Person of the Year award. In
May, he and Carol travelled to Washington D.C.,
where Tom competed with 49 other state
winners for the National Small Business Person
of the Year award. He almost won that contest
as well, finishing third nationwide.
Tom was nominated for the state honor by
Sen. Hugh Farley, who spoke on the floor of
the Legislature when Tom won the award. Both
the Senate and the Assembly honored Tom
with resolutions citing his outstanding
achievements and expressing pride in his being
named the state’s top small business person.
The application for the award was extensive,
and the resulting document revealed much
about Tom and about The Noteworthy
Company. Contestants were judged on the
staying power of their companies, growth in
sales and in the number of employees,
innovativeness of products or services, ability to
overcome adversity, and community involvement.
Carefully planned expansion of product lines,
services and land and buildings kept
Noteworthy in the forefront of the advertising
specialty industry. Tom began the company on
his own in 1954, so Noteworthy had been in
business 34 years when he won the award.
Employment grew from one in the beginning –
just Tom – to seven in 1961, 91 in 1979 and
220 in 1987. Sales volume increased from
289,000 dollars in 1966 to 2 million dollars in
1976 and 10 million dollars in 1986.
The product line, which began with the
“Travel Tissue Pak” and the now-famous
litterbag, has grown to include many different
kinds of bags made of paper and plastic, as well
Tom being congratulated by New York State Senator
Hugh Farley on winning the Small Business Person
Award.
As the product line widened and the number
of employees increased, the company expanded
its holdings as well. Tom made a series of
corporate acquisitions, each one planned to fit
his business and personal philosophy and to
bring Noteworthy closer to being a self-
contained operation. He also purchased and
renovated a number of buildings in Amsterdam
in order to enter the warehousing business, rent
space to other companies that needed it, and
stimulate Amsterdam’s economy.
The litterbag, which remains the company’s
staple, is a statement of Tom’s corporate
philosophy, because it puts an advertising
message directly in front of the customer as he
or she drives everywhere in the car. In 1954,
Americans were beginning a love affair with
cars, and Tom sensed that the market would
grow. The millions of cars on the road today
3
are testimony of how right he was.

Kluge Presses in the early 60’s.
But the litterbag also is a statement of Tom’s
personal philosophy. By using litterbags,
motorists were making a conscious effort to
prevent litter and to beautify America,
something very dear to Tom’s heart.
Noteworthy at first produced only paper
litterbags, expanding to include plastic in the
1960’s. Plastic is a petroleum product, and by
1973 the oil crisis had led to a tripling of
petroleum prices. Tom was forced to buy
polyethylene in larger quantities than he
needed and to pay more for it than he could
afford. But that experience convinced him that
he needed to be self-sufficient and produce
his own plastic. He borrowed money to purchase
machines for the task, bought a building to
house the machines, and became his own
supplier of polyethylene sheets for making
litterbags.
Tom’s community involvement – and the
company’s – extends far beyond the
environmental benefits of the litterbag. His
strong religious faith sustained him in business
and also led him to embrace many religious
4
causes, including the beatification of Kateri
Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks. Tom and
Noteworthy worked to promote Kateri’s cause,
and that work took Tom to Rome where he
met Pope John Paul II.
Tom promoted other Native American causes
as well, and became friends with Iron Eyes
Cody, a national spokesman for Keep America
Beautiful. He set up several different Native
American scholarship funds, and a Native
American museum was established in
Noteworthy’s headquarters building.
Tom was active in United Way, the Mohawk
Valley Heritage Association, the American Red
Cross, Hospice, Keep America Beautiful, the
National Council for the Encouragement of
Patriotism, the Flag Foundation, the Crime
Prevention Council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters,
the Montgomery County Chamber of
Commerce, the Amsterdam Free Library, the
Caughnawaga Museum, the Knights of
Columbus and the Sons of Italy.
Tom was a devoted family man. He loved his
wife Carol and his sons, Nicholas and Anthony,
and made time to be with them despite the
demands of his work and his other interests.
Staying power, increasing sales, growing
employment, innovative products and services,
ability to overcome adversity and community
involvement were the standards the
Small Business Administration used to select its
New York State Small Business Person of the
Year in 1988. They were tough standards, but
Tom Constantino rose to meet them, as he did
everything else.
Iron Eyes, Smokey Bear,
industrialist Sidney Grossman and Tom.
Energy . . .
Enthusiasm . . .
Excitement . . .

T
homas B. Constantino often used
these words to describe the
importance of the letter ‘e’ in
Noteworthy. “for it is without the ‘e’ that
“Noteworthy” would be “not worthy” . . . But that
little ‘e’ gives us the extras that make us worthy
of note.
How appropriate it is to reflect on these “e”
words and realize that they best define Thomas
B. Constantino.
This is a collection of memories. The picture
of Tom that emerges from these reflections is
that of a man who had many facets, or perhaps
interests, dimensions and loves. If it can be
said of anyone that “The whole is greater than
the sum of its parts,” it can be said of Tom
Constantino. Yes, he was an outstanding
businessman, a pillar of his community, a family Stanley Linham and Frank Nowlin sharing a moment at
the Promotional Products Trade Show.
man and a man of great personal faith. But
those who have contributed to this collection –
and all who met this extraordinary man –
knew he was so much more. Tom was particularly devoted to one Native
American, Kateri Tekakwitha, the “Lily of the
Mohawks.” He was a tireless crusader for the
cause of her sainthood and was instrumental in
Stan Linham, who hired Tom as an the drive for her beatification in 1980. This
advertising salesman in the early 1950’s, may involvement and other acts of faith brought
have put it best when he wrote: Tom into contact with many religious leaders
“Tom gave every indication that he was including Pope John Paul II. Monsignor Paul A.
willing to work for success; I recognized that Lenz, executive director of the Bureau of
this young man had a fire in his gut to Catholic Indian Missions, wrote:
succeed. He lived an exemplary life as a “The beatification of Blessed Kateri
husband, father, Catholic and supporter of Tekakwitha at St. Peter’s in Rome was such a
charities, his church, Native Americans and great event, and it was made even more
others. He was honest and straightforward; what pleasant and meaningful with Tom going out of
you saw was what you got. Tom was his way to do everything he could for everyone.
compassionate – to a fault. His employees grew Somehow Iron Eyes Cody, the noted American
as he did. His church was the benefactor of all Indian who was present with Tom at the
his good deeds. His love and devotion to Native ceremony, did not have a ticket for the
Americans was all-consuming. He was a born audience with the Holy Father. Tom gave up his
organizer and leader. Amsterdam and the ticket so Iron Eyes could meet Pope John Paul II.
Mohawk Valley may never have a better It happened, though, that someone then
5
ambassador to the world than Tom.” arranged for Tom to be present also.

Tom with Monsignor Paul Lenz, Executive Director of the
Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions.
“Everyone knew of Tom’s great devotion for
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. He wanted to see
her canonized by the church and was the
leading layperson for the cause of Blessed
Kateri. He and The Noteworthy Company were
responsible nationally for much of the interest
of Native Americans and others by providing
photos, articles and prayer cards to make
Blessed Kateri better known.”
Tom also was devoted to Padre Pio, and
those at the National Centre for Padre Pio in
Barto, Pennsylvania knew him well. Julia
Ciccarone, writing on behalf of her mother,
Centre President Vera Calandra, recalled Tom’s
generosity, and also his humor.
“One of the many ways in which Tom assisted
the Nation Centre was to send us thousands
upon thousands of the plastic bags which he
manufactured, in all sizes. Mostly they were
overruns from the various contracts that he had
with different companies and clients, so it was not
unusual to see the devotees of Padre Pio
from all over the United States carrying ‘Tom’s
Noteworthy Bags’ advertising a lumber company
in St. Louis back to their hometown in Texas.
6
“It was the very first of the Padre Pio Days of
Graces. . . and Tom was present from beginning
to end. Our centre always provides a large
selection of Padre Pio literature and religious
items to thousands in attendance, and each
purchase was packed in one of ‘Tom’s
Noteworthy Bags’. Tom came to the table and
was looking over the books and rosaries, etc.
From one of my sisters he purchased a book
and it was put into a plastic bag and given to
him. Continuing to look down the table, his
generous nature took over and he started
purchasing book after book and item after item
for his many dear friends and relatives, each
time refusing the offer of another bag and
slipping his purchase into the already bulging
bag in his hand. Finally, after stuffing absolutely
too much into this poor bag, the handles gave
out, the bag broke and his purchases were
scattered at the feet of hundreds of others
crowded around the literature tables. Without
skipping a beat, Tom turned to my sister,
Maria, and deadpanned, ‘Damn these cheap
bags! If I were you, I’d complain to the
president of the company!’ He picked up his
items in good humor, slipped away from the
tables and left Maria gazing open-mouthed after
him!”
Tom and Carol with Bishop Hubbard.
The Most Rev. Howard Hubbard, Bishop of
the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese, also
reflected on Tom’s many-sided personality.
“Tom Constantino lived to fulfill his identity
as a Christian gentleman in his relationships
with his wife Carol and family, with his civic
and business associates, with the church, with
the community of Amsterdam and of the
Mohawk Valley, and – in a unique way – with
the business he founded, The Noteworthy
Company. His very choice of the word
“noteworthy” for this business venture quietly
but clearly expresses the standard of excellence
Tom envisioned and mandated for a business
that, in its very identity as the first and largest
producer of the litterbags, is connected with
concern and respect for the environment.
“That term ‘Noteworthy’ characterizes the
vigorous and generous support that Tom
Constantino accorded the churches in
Amsterdam and the Auriesville Shrine over the
years. I call attention to his having had
a sculpture created for the Vatican. I am well
aware of Tom’s magnanimous support for our
Diocese of Albany. The term ‘Noteworthy’ also
describes his enthusiastic promotion of the
heritage of the Mohawk Valley and his
participation as a civic leader and businessman
in the life and projects and dreams of the area
community.”
Rev. Robert Boyle, S.J. former Director of the National
Shrine of the North American Martyrs in nearby
Auriesville, New York.
Father Robert J. Boyle, S.J., was the director
of the Auriesville Shrine for several years. He
also recalls the sculpture mentioned by Bishop
Hubbard, a copy of which Tom also gave to the
shrine:
“The most memorable occasion in my
association with Tom was the acquisition of the
statue of Our Lady Fatima designed by
Frederick Shrady. It was a truly blessed event.
The speedy approval by the Jesuit superiors, the
beautiful sculpture, the sharing in the event of
a statue in the Vatican Gardens from the same
mold, all made this a truly inspiring occasion.
It was through Tom’s generosity that the Shrine
has this work of art and tribute to the Blessed
Mother.
“There were many other indications of Tom’s
interest in and devotion to the Shrine. The
Kateri float, the donkey cart in which Bishop
Pernicone approached the Shrine on Italian
Pilgrimage Day, the centennial celebration, the
visit to the Shrine of the Kateri conference
when the conference was held in Syracuse, are
just a few of the occasions when Tom’s interest
and generosity benefited the Shrine – and
occasionally made life interesting.”
The Very Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Glavin, for
many years pastor of Tom’s beloved St. Mary’s
Church in Amsterdam, recalled that a dozen
years ago the church needed to raise 1.5
million dollars for a major reconstruction and
redecorating project that included the church,
the pipe organ, the rectory and even the
parking lots. All this was to coincide with
Father Glavin’s Golden Jubilee celebration.
“For the campaign, we decided to have a stiff
cardboard triptych in beautiful colors which
would both tell the story of the Parish and its
glories. It would also be the instrument for fund
raising. Father Gulley and I decided that we
would ask Tom to advise us on this triptych,
and we met with him, bringing with us photos
of the city, the church, the school, and a beautiful
stained glass widow, the great organ, the choir,
etc. We discussed with Tom the material to be
on the six panels. Finally Tom said to us, “It’s
not up to me to say this to you, but don’t you
think we should include a prayer?” Father
Gulley and I laughed and, of course, agreed. So
one panel was devoted to the “Magnificat,”
which was chosen as the prayer for the success
of the campaign.
“Coming back from Noteworthy, Father Gulley
and I laughed at ourselves that it had taken Tom
Constantino to put the prayer into the triptych.”
Tom’s strong religious faith was an integral
part of his business and family life as well.
Carlyle A. “Bud” Wilson II of Bocar
Enterprises, Indianapolis, Indiana, relied on the
7
Bible to characterize Tom.
 “We knew each other very well, and also
each other’s families. We spent many hours
together. We both gave to Mr. Longears. We
shared donkeys. Most of all we shared our love
of ideas and values. I could write a very lengthy
tribute to my friend who has gone home, but
five Bible verses say it all. They represent what
Tom believed, and he lived by them in all his
being:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart and soul and mind and strength,
and your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31).
Be doers of the word and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves (James 1:22).
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so
faith without works is dead also (James 2:26).
Faith working through love avail much
(Galatians 5:6b).
For you Brethren have been called to liberty;
only to not use liberty as an opportunity for
the flesh, but through the love of Christ serve
one another (Galatians 5:13)”.
Other business associates around the country
may or may not have mentioned Tom’s faith
specifically in their recollections, but all knew
of his deep personal commitment to his family,
his business, his church and his community.
David McNeer and his dad, John McNeer meet McGruff in
the Noteworthy trade show booth.
Marvin Spike, president of the Advertising
Specialty Institute, knew Tom for a long time:
“During nearly a quarter century that I was
privileged to know Tom Constantino – in many
cases to learn from and admire him – there
8
was hardly ever a contact in which I didn’t walk
away with a new idea or stimulating different
insight on an old one, be it for business or for
the never-ending number of caring causes in
which Tom was always involved.
“As a client, Tom was always open to an idea.
Always willing to listen. More important, as a
person, the simplest “hello” usually wound up
at least a 15-minute session about something
that made me feel better about myself or our
mutual world – business or personal. The
industry is a better place and more often finds
itself being part of important national and
world causes because of Tom”.
A couple of years ago, Marvin presented
Carol with “The Counselor’s” lifetime
achievement award in Tom’s memory. During
the presentation, he said:
“Not surprisingly, though dollars and cents
seemed to be anywhere but at the top of the
list of priorities to which Tom committed
himself and business, his company is among
the Top 20 Suppliers this year. But this special
award has more to do with a lifetime devoted to
the most singularly worthwhile cause
imaginable – the betterment of mankind.”
Bill Larsen, president of Bill Larsen and
Associates Inc., remembers that he and Tom
“had to learn to love one another” because
they both were impatient and eager to get
things done and sometimes took it out on each
other. But “The thing that made it work was
the fact that we were both good at our
respective jobs and we both knew it.”
Tom and Bill worked together to develop the
red poly danger flag, which first came out
with one side red and one side white. But that
wasn’t legally acceptable in Wisconsin, so Tom
redesigned it in pure red poly. Millions of sales
later, it is an industry standard.
“The thing that most people didn’t
understand about Tom – and neither did I
until years later – is that when you didn’t get
your on-time delivery, it was more often than
not because Tom was into some worthy project.
Tom, of course, was totally involved in both
donkeys and Catholic charities. I never did
understand that combination, but maybe Tom
did, and consequently more times than his
production manager cares to remember, the
equipment was tied up doing some totally non-
profit endeavor for one or the other, while bona
fide, profitable orders sat idly by waiting their
turn after Tom’s personal contribution was
taken care of.
 “Tom and I exchanged many promotional
ideas over the years, and I credit him for
teaching me more about direct mail than any
other single person I know. Tom is missed – he
always will be missed – but what a privilege it
was to know him and work with him over the
many fruitful years we spent in association.”
endless brochures helped to educate, inform
and inspire distributors and their sales forces
on how to use it as one of the finest mass
distribution mediums imaginable.
“His concern for our environment was
extremely important in fostering the growth of
the litterbag and the continuing success of his

Ray Geiger, chairman of the board of Geiger

Bros., also recalled Tom as a man of many
dimensions.
“He was a dynamic man and dedicated to
God, his country, the lowly Indian, and the
donkey, which was a part of his life. I often
wondered how he could afford to make his trips
and find himself in such good company over
the years.
“Through all the things we did, Tom’s
personality came through. He was a loveable
guy and was certainly a fine leader.”
Les Horton, chairman of the board of Lesco
Corp. recalls the early days of the advertising
specialty industry.
“Our good friend Tom Constantino is one of Tom explaining the benefits inherent in the
Noteworthy Trick or Treat bag.
the leaders who helped bring along the
advertising specialty industry. A few of us can
remember when our entire international show
occupied part of the seventh floor at the
business year after year. Among his many
Palmer House in Chicago.
recognitions was the honor of being named
“Part of the reason for the success of
New York State Small Business Person of the
Noteworthy is due to the seeds planted by Tom
Year.”
Constantino, in which his company assisted
many distributors in many ways, particularly John wrote this poem when Tom died:
with creative ideas and extra fine service.”
A Tribute to Tom

John D. McNeer of Newton Manufacturing
Company knew Tom for 35 years.
“I sincerely admired his many great attributes
and his genuine enthusiasm for our industry
and its purpose.
“Tom was a self-made man who started his
career selling calendars and specialty
advertising on the street. He learned this
business from the ground up. Tom was always
bubbling over with genuine enthusiasm for his
products or ideas. Years ago I gave him the
nickname, ‘Mr. Bubbles,’ which seemed to fit
perfectly.
“When you consider that Tom’s main product
was an inexpensive litterbag, you can readily see
his challenges. Literally hundreds of graphic
designs, distribution ideas and advertising
programs made his litterbags shimmer and
sparkle in the limelight. His creative mind and
A man so rare you will seldom find,
With a giant heart and the keenest mind.
So generous, thoughtful, kind and sincere,
Tom lived a great life from year to year.
He tackled life’s challenges, problems and troubles
With boundless energy – our friend “Mr. Bubbles.”
We will miss him for sure in the days ahead,
But only his body rests with the dead.
Those who knew Tom will most certainly say
His spirit and soul are in heaven today.
Elizabeth Toth, whose husband Al was Tom’s
friend for 40 years, recalls that the two men
roomed together at a business meeting in
Chicago.
“Tom asked Al to go with him to Chicago
and help him set up his first advertising show.
They drove all night to get there, as neither
9
one could afford to stop on the way.

“Tom asked Al to go into business with him,
but since Al had a family, he wanted time to
spend with his growing children. Tom was not
married at the time and had a million ideas
going around in his head (Editor’s note: that
didn’t change when Tom got married).
“There is no question about it – Tom was a
very creative man, a wonderful friend. While
we were still living in Arizona, Tom called
often.”
Stan Sufnarski, now a retired teacher living in
Vermont, grew up with Tom, graduated from
high school with him, served in the Navy at the
same time and served with him in the National
Guard. Tom was the godfather of Stan’s son,
Michael.
“Tom would always call me here in Vermont
to chat with me and tell me how the company
was doing. He loved his company, his
employees, his lovely wife Carol and their two
beautiful boys. He loved my father, who was an
employee of Noteworthy back in the 50’s.
“Wherever Tom went, whether California, Italy,
Portugal or Mexico, I always received a call
from him. He never forgot his pal Stan.
“I watched the company grow from a
miniscule one-room office in his mother’s house
10
on Slater Street to the prosperous Noteworthy
Tom with his boys, Nicholas and Anthony.
Tom shown with some of his donkey collection.
Below: Tom shown with newborn donkey and Bud
Wilson, breeder of Jack Russell terriers and
donkeys.
Company of today on Church Street. Tom
enjoyed his work immensely and never minded
the long hours he devoted to his business. He
always welcomed me with open arms whenever I
visited the company in Amsterdam. He
generously offered me his camp for an
overnight stay any time.”
Amsterdam’s business community knew and
loved Tom Constantino. He was respected and
admired for his drive and his creativity, as well
as his love for the City of Amsterdam and his
desire to help people.
Carl Schmidt, manager of Longview Fibre
Company knew Tom for more than 20 years.
“Through exceptionally hard work,
perseverance, dedication and faith, Tom
Constantino nurtured The Noteworthy Company
from a gleam in his futuristic eye through some
extremely difficult times and laid the
groundwork for the splendid company that it is
today.
“When I arrived in Amsterdam in 1966 to
oversee the construction, hire the employees
and remain as manager of the Longview Fibre
plant, one of the first people in Amsterdam
who welcomed me, my family and the company
was Tom. He not only made the polite offer of

assistance, but I could count on him to loan us
a piece of equipment if he had it, some space
to store machinery or materials on a temporary
basis until we could move it to our facility
under construction, or to give me some advice
that was unique to the Amsterdam area.
“I sought and received advice, and used on
many occasions Tom’s talent as a sounding
board for thoughts and concerns. Over the
years we ‘broke bread’ on many occasions, and
those fun times will be among my favorite
memories of Amsterdam. Tom was a deeply
religious man, and I admired him especially for
this. I know that his faith carried him over and
through some very rough times personally as
well as in his work.”
Herbert L. Shuttleworth II, one of the driving
forces behind Amsterdam’s carpet industry in its
heyday, remembers Tom as a friend on several
levels.
“I always considered Tom not only to be a
close personal friend, but also a dedicated,
enthusiastic and far-sighted community leader
with a keen desire to advance the interest not
only in our Amsterdam area, but also in the
Right:
Tom in Caicos Islands.
entire Mohawk Valley. With his wellspring of
ideas, we met many times in either his office or
mine to explore the implications and
possibilities
“Perhaps my fondest recollection was the trip
we made together to completely explore the old
Starin Estate outside of Fultonville, and then
visiting the site of another of his great interests,
the Indian village west of Fonda. He felt strongly
that the two places were so important in past
history that they should be preserved for posterity.
It was a marvelous day, as his interest and
enthusiasm were so contagious and compelling.”
Joseph Isabel, a local entrepreneur, counts
himself fortunate to have known Tom while Joe
was in high school and a college student.
“He was a man with a vision: he aimed high
and was not afraid of hard work to accomplish
his goals.
“He knew of my interest in radio and
television as a young man. Many people looked
at me as a dreamer, but not Tom. He
11
encouraged me to pursue my dreams as he
 once did. He was always helpful and ready to
render assistance.
“I will always remember Tom as an ambitious
worker, a man with strong principles and a
loving individual – a man who has touched
many lives and is dearly missed by the
community.
Tom, Dr. Reigh Carpenter, Lionel Fallows, Mayor Mario
Villa appear at Noteworthy Christmas party with Iron
Eyes Cody.
Reigh Carpenter, Ph.D., longtime friend,
confidant and scribe, listed a number of things
he remembers about Tom:
“The many times he called me in to spend
several hours at his home for one-on-one
sessions on issues of the day. . . drafting, writing
speeches and organizing comments for many of
Tom’s local presentations. . . the nice, friendly
folks at Noteworthy. . . the many times he would
call me in to take notes on his new
inspirations. . . notes on future community
projects which he asked me to develop, to write
and/or to generate a plan of attack. . . late
meals at his home at which time he would
create a new project, ask for my opinions, input
and personal reactions. . . Tom’s absolute
devotion to and concern for fostering his
religious beliefs. . . for Auriesville and
12
the Tekakwitha Shrine. . . all key factors in his
fulfillment of life. . . the time we spent together
with Lionel Fallows in the formation of the
Mohawk Valley Heritage Association and the
development of the Elwood Museum. . . working
to organize the Indian museums with Tom and
Joe Todak at the Auriesville Shrine, Tekakwitha
Shrine, and Noteworthy Company. . . the
numerous meetings with Tom and the Catholic
clergy and the bishop on special needs and
projects. . . Tom’s many hours of dedication to
Noteworthy. . . his contributions to the
community, non-profit groups and the many
groups who sought his help and donations.
“Once he said he liked to have someone with
a doctorate degree around him. . . perhaps it
helped, but Tom had a deeper, more thorough
education than many of the doctorates I have
known. Truly, Tom was a self-made man who
had more education and knowledge than most
Amsterdamians.”
Lionel Fallows also knew Tom for a number
of years, collaborating with him to help form an
organization that was vitally important to both
of them and still fills a critical role in the City
of Amsterdam.
“A strong expression of purpose and meaning
and heritage in our community is the Mohawk
Valley Heritage Association, nurtured under
Tom’s careful but – as always – positive and
demanding leadership. The association was
spawned, really, in the Noteworthy board room
on Church Street, which Tom encouraged us to
use for our meetings. His persuasive and
appealing call for recognition down through the
years has moved the association forward to its
present position. Indeed, without Tom’s tireless
and dauntless involvement, the association
would have died on the vine.
“My personal relationship with Tom was
always warm, friendly and loving. He had a
great talent to probe our inward thoughts and
feelings in his search for what needed to be
done for our community, and indeed for our
world.”
Tom was a trustee of the Amsterdam Free
Library for several years. John Brisbin was the
library director during Tom’s time on board.
John’s memories of Tom go far beyond the fact
that Tom was a tireless worker and an
important benefactor for the library.
 “At the heart of this brusque dynamo who
would jet around the globe to trade shows and
storm through the Noteworthy complex
bellowing orders and changing his mind for the
dozenth time was in fact a very simple guy, a
good Italian son, a very loving husband and
father, a man who in spite of his fortune never
lost his working-class roots. The carpet mills
and much of the population left town during
the 1970’s, but Tom never left Amsterdam –
not physically and certainly not psychologically.
What he liked best was sipping coffee and
yakking with the everyday crowd in Brownie’s,
Fariello’s, or having a steaming plate of linguini
with friends up on the hill at Lorenzo’s.
“From Amsterdam, then, not only his
business but his altruistic and philanthropic
interest flowered. They ranged from ecology to
the arts to the Native American history of the
Mohawk Valley. Tom wanted to ‘uplift’
everything (that was one of his favorite words).
He wanted to rebuild and encourage all the
fragmented good he saw around him. To that
end, he was so incredibly generous that more
than a few members of his management team Tom Cummings, Mac Gray (National Crime
Prevention Council), Eleanor Hangley of the Ad Council,
grew pale wondering if he’d give away the whole John Calhoun (NCPC) take a break after discussions
store and go broke without thinking much involving McGruff, Noteworthy and the Ad Council.
about it. Of course, he never did. He just kept
on succeeding and he kept on giving.
“No one on earth, I’m sure, tried harder to
aid the cause of Kateri Tekakwitha’s official “He was a believer; he took risks, and he
sainthood than Tom Constantino did. He realized that in the long run, all of it did not
printed and circulated hundreds of thousands of have to do with making money, but with
holy cards and pamphlets about her, personally making the world a better place. I saw this
lobbied bishops, cardinals and popes on her when I had dinner at his home with his lovely
behalf and paid for the full renovation of her wife and children. There I saw the value of
shrine on the northern banks of the Mohawk dignity, hard work and caring being carried on.
River”. They will be carried on in his family and his
company.
“I feel extremely fortunate that our paths
Tom embraced other causes besides Kateri crossed.”
Tekakawitha’s possible canonization. John A.
Calhoun is executive director of the National
Crime Prevention Council, whose symbol, Tom loved his country with the same passion
McGruff the Crime Dog, has appeared on many with which he embraced other parts of his life.
Noteworthy products. George F. Cahill, president of the National Flag
“Tom was the first businessman to Foundation, remembers that he and Tom hit it
understand both the marketing potential of off immediately when they first met some 20 or
McGruff and McGruff’s potential for the 30 years ago, because each could sense the
American public. Tom had that rare ability to other’s patriotism. Tom became an important
combine his social passion with a business – and influential member of the Flag Foundation,
talents rarely, if ever, found together. and he and Carol went to Flag Plaza in
“Tom could wax eloquent about his Pittsburgh to attend a reception in honor of actor
attempted canonization of the first Native Jimmy Stewart and his wife. Jimmy
American saint as well as talk in depth about Stewart is an honorary director of the National
13
business practices. Flag Foundation.
 “I called a very small handful of friends near
at hand, and fewer still at a distance. Tom
immediately indicated that he and Carol would
be with us for the luncheon to honor Mr. and
Mrs. Stewart. We were thrilled and delighted to
have them. Their presence and participation
National Flag Foundation Executive Director George F.
Cahill, and Tom agree on a joint promotional venture for
NFF.
contributed immensely to our ability to properly
host Mr. and Mrs. Stewart.
“I remember how absolutely honored and
delighted I was to receive an invitation to the
25th anniversary celebration of The Noteworthy
Company. It was a delight to see all who
worked with and admired Tom so much over
the years gather around Tom and Carol to help
them celebrate that great event.
“Tom Constantino was a patriot
extraordinaire who understood the fragility and
delicacy of liberty, and demonstrated by his
every act a marvelous example of the fact that
liberty must constantly be served, nourished
and treasured by those who would have it
tomorrow.”
Tony Renna of Schenenctady first met Tom 40
14
years ago when he and Tom were working for
the same cause – immigration. They also
worked together for the Sicilian Earthquake
Relief Fund. They didn’t see each other for a
few years after that while they were involved in
what Tony calls “building our empires,” but
their paths crossed again when Tom began
working with Keep America Beautiful and
wanted Schenectady to follow Amsterdam’s
example and get involved in this program. Tony
was named to head “Keep Schenectady
Beautiful,” and says it is still effective and
strong after 10 years.
“A few years ago, Tom was delighted to learn
that I had more time on my hands, so he
scheduled more travels together, always serving
some worthy cause. We served in promoting
Kateri, the Native Americans, Keep America
Beautiful, and the religious community wherever
needed. Tom was always in the middle of these
worthy causes, and yes, I was always at his side
doing what I could to help.
“Tom was a great man and a great influence
on my life. Just by following his daily actions,
my religious convictions were intensified. He
was always guided by his daily prayers, both
morning and night. He would fall to his knees
and give thanks for all the guidance he had
received each day. Tom was always grateful for
each member of his family. He was most proud
of his wife and two sons. He was grateful for his
family of employees and for the success he
enjoyed.
“Tom Constantino was my very dear friend. I
am proud to have had the privilege to share his
world in depth. I learned from Tom, and I am
grateful for all his teachings. He was a profound
friend.”
Always a flag waver,
Tom was thrilled when
asked to carry the
American flag during a
Padre Pio celebration.
Shown at left is
good friend, Tony
Renna, who made the
trip to Italy with Tom.

Iron Eyes Cody, Dr. Louis Vaccaro, President of the
College of St. Rose with Tom.
Louis C. Vaccaro, president of the College of
Saint Rose, recalls meeting Tom and Carol
seven or eight years ago. He got to know Tom
somewhat later after visiting The Noteworthy
Company.
“I searched for the underlying reason for his
success as a business person, as a community
volunteer and as a devoted husband and father.
The more I looked and the more I pondered,
the clearer it became that Tom was successful
primarily because of his genuine goodness. He
was good to everyone he met. He was good
because he believed in the goodness of other
people, and he was generous. He sought out
opportunities to help the less fortunate. The
college and our students benefited from his
generosity when he established the Iron Eyes
Cody Native American Scholarship Program.
“I enjoyed visiting with Tom because in many
ways he retained the childlike qualities of
curiosity, adventure and creativity, all
interspersed with a deep and abiding faith in
people. It is not a surprise to me that The
Noteworthy Company continues to thrive,
because Tom laid such a solid foundation and
was able to assemble a workforce which mirrors
many of his fine qualities.
“I am happy to be considered a ‘Noteworthy’
friend.”
State Senator Hugh T. Farley recognized
Tom’s many attributes when he nominated Tom
for New York State Small Business Person
of the Year award. Tom won that honor and
came very close to being the national winner as
well.
“I know Tom was extremely proud of the
Small Business Person of the Year Award which
he received in 1988 from the United States
Small Business Administration. As the award
certificate notes, Tom exemplified the
“imagination, initiative, independence and
integrity” which small businesses bring to our
free enterprise system.
“Tom was a forerunner in the campaign to
keep America beautiful. Long before it was a
popular notion, and certainly long before others
realized its profitability, Tom promoted the
pride which comes with cleaning up our
roadsides and communities. It was Tom’s vision
which made Noteworthy the ‘First and Largest
Producer of Litterbags’.
“But most important, I know that Tom set his
highest sights on being a good father and a
good husband. His deep commitment to his
religion and family transcended everything else
in his life, and in this commitment, Tom found
both peace and success.”
Keep America Beautiful President Roger W. Powers,
shown with Tom and Jim Phoenix.
There would be a tremendous void if among
these fine tributes and accolades we failed to
share a bit of the humorous and humanistic
side of Tom Constantino. This final letter, from
longtime friend Jim Phoenix of Marietta,
Georgia, seems to capture the very normal side
of this magnanimous man.
A Ride to Remember
“One Saturday afternoon Tom phoned to ask
15
if my wife Doris and I would go to a church
 festival with him that evening at a small parish
about 60 or 70 miles upstate.
“We met at Tom’s house, and with Tom at the
wheel of his big Lincoln, took off for our
destination. As we travelled, Tom would bring
up various ideas whirling about in his head. As
we discussed them, Tom would gesture with
both hands and lean across to look at me to
see if I understood his logic.
“Every time he did the the car would go
faster and faster and weave about on the road
until we’d say, ‘Careful, Tom,’ or ‘Watch your
speed.’
“By the time we got to the festival, Doris was
a nervous wreck and my arm was aching from
where she was squeezing for the past hour. As
we got out of the car, she whispered, ‘Why
don’t you drive going home?’
“Now Tom is beyond the doubt the best
promotional man I’ve ever met, and his
16
business accomplishments speak for themselves.
But the one thing I could do better than Tom
was to drive a car. In fact, I pride myself on
being a superior driver.
“Come the dreaded hour of our return
journey, I asked Tom if I could drive, but he
refused my offer, and we were on the road once
again with Tom at the wheel. About 10 minutes
into the trip, Tom started to fall asleep. I would
nudge his elbow, Tom would snap to attention
and I would repeat my offer to drive. After
several little naps, Tom finally agreed, climbed
into the back seat and was soon sleeping
peacefully.
“When we arrived at his house I drove up the
driveway and started to make my swing around
the house. Not being used to the big Lincoln, I
had to stop, reverse, then complete the turn. At
that, Tom awoke and said ‘What kind of a
driver are you, Jim? I always make it on the
first try!’ ”
 ts, Blarney and Stromboli and
Tom shown with pe
donkey Herman.

Native Americans Joh

n & Burton Pretty-o
Father Larry Lorenzo n-Top flank
ni with Rev. Gilbert
Tom during 1986 Wo Hemauer and
rld Day Prayer for Pe
ace.

s
With Native American

Mrs. Matilda Cumo,

wife of the New York
Governor, shown in
front of the hand pa
donkey cart owned by inted
Tom. The cart is fro
Palermo, Italy. m

pe the Auriesville
Showing Mrs. Bob Ho .
Thomas F. Egan, S.J
Shrine with Father t tim e.
e during tha
Director of the Shrin

17
 n Paul II and Tom.
His Holiness Pope Joh
Tom, Native American
Bishop Donald Pello
Larry Lorenzoni. te, and Father

Brother Gilbert fiddle

s away for Tom and
Father Egan.

Eddie Cherosky at a Padre

Harry Calandra, Tom,
Pio Celebration.

Tom presenting Archbishop Pio Laghi with a Kateri

18 statue in 1988.
 k and Tom review a Donkey Mike visits
gm ast er. Dr. Konstantin Fran
Winemaste r an d Ba r Lakes region of Ne
w Amsterdam with his
Dr. Fr an k’s wi ne , made in the Finge
bottle of guitar.
York State.

Tom creating an
oil painting of
poppies. Paul Harvey &
Tom.

Rev. Alessio Parente,

Tom and Mrs. Vera
Calandra, Executive
Director of the Caus
Padre Pio. e of
Mary Lou Kieswetter.
America’s Flag Lady,
19
 One of Noteworthy’s favorite ads “Judge Us By The Company We Keep”
featuring Woodsy Owl, Keep America Beautiful spokesman,
Iron Eyes Cody, Tom, Smokey Bear, & McGruff, the Crime Dog.

Tom and his mother.

The Winds of Fate

One ship sails east
Another sails west
On the selfsame winds that blow
Tis’ the set of the sail
and not the gale
That determines the way they go.

Like the winds of the sea

Are the winds of fate
As we journey along through life
Tis’ the set of the soul
That determines the goal
And not the calm or the strife.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Tom during his Navy years.

20 One of Tom’s favorite poems.

 AUTHOR’S NOTE
It has been a pleasure, a privilege and an honor to
compile this booklet about Tom Constantino. I knew Tom
for about 7 years, nowhere nearly as long as the
authors of these fine testimonials, but long enough to
know that he was an extraordinary man. In my personal
and professional dealings with him, he was always honest
and forthright, and that is something to be admired. But
he was more than that. He genuinely cared about people
and about ideals some might think of as old-fashioned –
devotion to his family, concern for his employees and
associates and friends, patriotism, environmental awareness
and a burning desire to succeed.
The longer I knew Tom, the more I became aware of
the depth of his religious faith. Everything he said and did
was influenced by his belief in God, and everyone he met
came away richer for that.
Including me.
John Becker