Seven women from Garden City, one from New Hyde Park, one from Floral Park and one from Williston Park were among 13 “Women of Distinction” honored by state Assemblyman Edward Ra (R-Franklin Square) for their outstanding community service.
Ra recognized Michelle Kaiserman, Christine Mullaney, Susan Quigley, Angie Ruhry, Diana Tjaden and Theresa Trouve of Garden City; Antonietta Scarapicchia of Floral Park; and Nina McCann of Williston Park at a ceremony on Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Albertson.
Sister Marie Flaherty of Garden City and Melissa Hanna of New Hyde Park also won recognition, but could not attend the ceremony.
The women were chosen for the third annual honor based on their efforts to make Ra’s 19th Assembly district “a better place to live,” spokesman Tim Derocher said.
“Each one of these women has gone above and beyond to help our communities grow and flourish,” Ra said in a statement.
Kaiserman is highly active with the Garden City school board and Parent-Teacher Association, according to a release from Ra’s office. She recently led a campaign to help parents understand the major educational issues facing the district.
Mullaney has long been a leader in the Garden City Eastern Property Owners’ Association. In 2008, she helped conduct a public opinion poll asking residents what to do with the vacant St. Paul’s School Building on Stewart Avenue.
Quigley has supervised Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops in Garden City, helping scouts achieve the Gold Service Award and Eagle Scout status. She is also the chair of a Girl Scouts volunteer association in the village.
Ruhry co-founded the Peter K. Ruhry Keys to Hope Foundation, which provides food, clothing and shelter to people who lack access to them.
She started the foundation in memory of her son Peter, who died of a heroin overdose in 2010. She also serves on the Nassau County Heroin Prevention Task Force.
Tjaden, a physical therapist, started the Full Circle Breast Cancer Recovery program in 2009, which aids women in recovering from breast cancer. It is the only program in the state specializing exclusively in breast cancer recovery.
Trouve is a current Garden City village trustee and also serves as commissioner of Building and Planning, chair of the Environmental Advisory Board and a member of the Public Information Committee. She has also long been an active member of the Garden City Central Property Owners’ Association.
Scarapicchia came to the U.S. in 1956 at age 8, and eventually opened the Nature’s Pantry health food store in Floral Park, which she has run for 32 years. She is also highly involved with fundraising at Floral Park’s St. Hedwig Parish Church.
McCann, a spokeswoman for the law firm Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo & Terrana LLP, helps the firm’s charitable giving and leads its Diversity Fellowship. She also raises money for the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, the United Cerebral Palsy and the Greater Long Island Running Club.
None of the honorees were expecting any recognition for their work, Derocher said.
“They don’t do it for the accolades, they don’t do it for the ceremonies,” he said. “They just do it from their hearts, and that’s who they are, intrinsically, as people.”
