A painter and interior designer, Albert Fabozzi grew up in Coney Island and lived in the West Village as a young adult. When he and his longtime partner moved to the East Village, Fabozzi took an interest in making the neighborhood, and especially Tompkins Square Park, safer and more appealing. He served on Community Board 3 in the 1990s, becoming chairman in 1995, and founded the annual Christmas tree lighting event in the park.