Flower Hill Trustee Reichenbach dies

Sarah Minkewicz

Village of Flower Hill Trustee Karen Reichenbach died Tuesday morning. 

“Everyone is still in shock,” Village Clerk Ronnie Shatzkamer said. “She was such a wonderful person and was a great addition to the board,”

Village of Flower Hill Mayor Elaine Phillips announced at Monday’s board meeting that Reichenbach was under hospice care. 

“I would like to take a few moments for all of us to send our prayers to our colleague Trustee Karen Reichenbach,” Phillips said. “She’s currently in the care of hospice so if you could just think of her for a moment or two and pray that she’s finding peace.”

Board members and village residents were emotional at hearing about Reichenbach’s condition. 

Reichenbach, who lived in the village of Flower Hill for the last 23 years, told theislandnow in 2014 that she is proudest of her work as chair of the village’s tree committee, which was created during her term and consists of board members, village employees and citizen representatives. 

Reichenbach, who was re-elected last month to a two-year term, said at the time that she has represented the residents of the village fairly and with integrity and will continue to do so if re-elected. “I have faithfully carried out my duties to the village for two terms,” Reichenbach said last month. “Experience in village governance is important to maintain momentum. Right now, we have a great group of trustees anchored by an excellent mayor. We all make every effort to represent our residents in an honest and straightforward manner. Each of us brings different skills to the board, which results in a good balance of knowledge and experience. The Village of Flower Hill is in good hands.”

Reichenbach had served as a board member for the Port Washington School District’s Education Foundation, which awards grants to teachers and students for their innovative ideas within the district. She is also the village’s representative on the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee. 

She had headed the Tree Committee, working with the Board of Trustees, Mayor and Village Administration to achieve Tree City USA status with the National Arbor Day Foundation. In that time, Reichenbach said the village planted 265 new trees on village property, started an annual Arbor Day celebration and replaced 26 trees on residential properties that were lost due to the effects of Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Reichenbach was beginning to plan for the 2016 Arbor Day Event and Phillips said the board will continue to plan for Arbor Day in her absence. 

“Arbor Day is a big deal for Karen,” Phillips said. “We will do something special for her.”

Funeral arrangements have not been made yet. 

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