The late Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs will not soon be forgotten, at least by those walking the halls of the Nassau County legislative and executive office building in Mineola.
Hundreds of Republican and Democratic colleagues, friends and family members assembled on Monday to dedicate to Jacobs the wing that houses the offices of the minority caucus of the Nassau County Legislature.
“This was my mom’s second home,” said Linda Jacobs-Geller, her daughter. “She loved what she did. She loved helping the community, and working with legislators on her side and the other side of the party line.”
Jacobs, who died after a fall in her home last September, was a member of the county Legislature since its inception in 1996, serving as presiding officer for a time after the Democrats gained the majority in 1999. She represented the 16th District, including Roslyn Heights, Old Westbury and parts of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Among the Nassau County legislators in attendance were Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves, Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, Republican Richard Nicolello and the successor to Jacobs’ seat, Democrat Arnold Drucker. Town of North Hempstead Councilman Peter Zuckerman was also present.
“As soon as Judy and I met we knew there was a bond,” Gonsalves said. “She may have been a Democrat and I’m a Republican but it made no difference because the motivation was the same: the motivation to serve.”
“The wisdom and guidance Judy Jacobs provided to me was tremendous,” Abrahams said. “She was always there not just to share Chinese food with me in her office but to share a kind word.”
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Jacobs recalled her work with Judy Jacobs on bolstering smoking regulations and putting transgender protections in local anti-discrimination codes.
In February, the Town of North Hempstead passed a law raising the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21, which Judi Jacobs said was done “with Judy’s name.”
She said the legislative building now shares that imprimatur.
“Her integrity and service above self will always be here in these halls because it has to be because it’s in Judy’s name,” Judi Jacobs said.
Abrahams said he hopes those passing through the building will be inspired to learn about Judy Jacobs.
“I want people, when they walk through the halls, to Google ‘Judy Jacobs’ and when they Google they will see amazing achievements.”
