Armand D’Amato and his daughter Jessica have certainly learned a lot from one another over the years.
D’Amato, a New York native, is the chairman of the Deafness Research Foundation (DRF) Board of Directors. Some 15 years ago, he decided to get involved with DRF because of Jessica’s hearing loss. She was identified at an early age primarily by luck, when she failed to respond to the loud barking of a dog. “Nowadays, thanks to DRF’s work in getting states to pass legislation requiring newborn infant hearing screening, diagnoses of young children happen on a regular basis,” says D’Amato. “Progress like that makes my involvement with DRF so meaningful.”
The recipient of the DRF Leadership Award at the DRF “Celebration of Hearing Health” gala, D’Amato says he was energized by the enthusiasm he saw that night. Particularly inspiring was the more than $620,000 raised to help fund future research projects.
“It is the goal of DRF to fund as many research projects as possible so that one day we can discover all of the reasons why people have hearing loss,” says D’Amato. “And it’s our hope that some day we might even be able to whittle those reasons down to zero.”
D’Amato is married and has five children. He is the managing partner of Park Strategies, LLC, a New York-based consulting firm. He also serves as president of the Lloyd Group, a political lobbying firm and serves as counsel for Forchelli, Curto, Schwartz, Mineo, Carlino & Cohn, LLP, a firm he helped found 25 years ago. He has been involved in state politics for over two decades, including 15 years as a New York State Assemblyman.
It should come as no surprise that someone so multifaceted should also embrace a multidimensional sport: the triathlon. D’Amato has completed many, including a half-Ironman and one full Ironman. D’Amato is thrilled that his daughter Jessica has followed in his footsteps – literally – by taking up triathlons as a hobby. Currently, she is ranked in the top 100 of her age group of over 900 athletes.
“My daughter has taught me that there are really no limits when you’re committed to a goal,” says D’Amato. “DRF’s own commitment to the goal of hearing health for all is something I am so proud to be a part of.”
