Marianna Wohlgemuth and Marietta DiCamillo announced their resignation last week as presidents of the Lakeville Estates Civic Association and North Lakeville Civic Association
But the two sisters said their joint decision will not be the end of their involvement in hometown affairs.
“Not being the president will not mean that I’m not going to be as opinionated and active as I have been before,” DiCamillo said.
“I will not have the additional role of president, but I’m still going to be active,” Wohlgemuth added.
The sisters, who have been involved in civic work for the past 25 years, said the joint decision to retire was a result of changing times.
“I think that other people should run the meetings,” DiCamillo said. “There’s a younger community that needs to take hold. The items that are important to me may not be as important to everyone else, it’s only fair.”
Wohlgemuth, who has been president of the Lakeville Estates Civic Association since 1990, echoed this notion, stating the need for younger people to be more involved.
“There’s been a change in demographics, a change in ethnicity, it’s time for the younger people to take over,” she said.
DiCamillo, who has been president of the North Lakeville Civic Association for 15 years and was elected president of the Great Neck Library Board of Trustees last year, said an obstacle both sisters faced prior to their decision to retire, was the issue of transparency in the Town of North Hempstead’s Building Department.
But, she said, that problem seems to have been addressed by Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, who took office last year.
“It seems like Judi Bosworth is doing a phenomenal job,” DiCamillo said. “I’m very happy she’s our town supervisor.”
Woghlemuth was a frequent critic of Bosworth’s predecessor, Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, clashing over his initial proposal to purchase the Roslyn Country Club and create a park for town residents and the financing of the Clinton G. Martin Park District.
Responding to her complaints, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos sought to conduct an audit of the park district, touching off a legal battle with the town won by Maragos. The subsequent audit supported Kaiman, showing that the town had owed the park district money that was later repaid.
Kaiman did revise his proposal on the purchase of the Roslyn Country Club in the face of civic opposition led by Wohlgemuth and DiCarmillo, making the purchase part of a special park district rather than a town park.
Wohgemuth, 65, said she will continue her roles in other areas of government, including New Hyde Park’s Park District Advisory Committee.
“I’m still going to be a very active member in that,” she said.
She said she will also continue to edit the civic association’s monthly newsletter.
Wohlgemuth has been honored as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction in 2010, received a Certificate of Commendation from the American Legion in 1998, and was named to the Town of North Hempstead Women’s Roll of Honor in 1995. She is an advocate for the environment and especially for water conservation.
She is also vice president of Citizens for Democracy, a member of the Franklin Square Child Care Council, a member of the Coalition for Community Preservation in New Hyde Park, a member of CERT since 2006, treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 5253 and a board member of the Water Authority of Western Nassau County since 1995.
After attending Bernard M. Baruch School of Business, Wohlgemuth has had a wide and varied career in finance as owner and chief financial officer of Prevue Textiles in New York City for 10 years, then as controller and business manager for Eagle Electronics in Ronkonkoma. Since 2004, she has owned and operated the Early Beginnings Daycare Center.
DiCamillo was elected president of the Great Neck Library Board last year, an organization in which her sister serves as a member of the building advisory committee. They also participate in a number of environmental and conservation causes together. Both women are also members of the Sons of Italy Cellini Lodge #2206 in New Hyde Park.
For nearly 20 years, DiCamillo, has been chief financial officer for the Major League Baseball Players Association.
After receiving her bachelor of arts from Queens College, she was office manager for the Independent Federation of Flight Attendants for 18 years. She took her current position with Major League Baseball Players Association after working briefly as a financial consultant and network supervisor at Schack & Siegel, P.C.
DiCamillo has been president of the North Lakeville Civic Association since 2005. She is also founder of the Citizens’ League for Environmental Action Now, an officer of the Foundation to Preserve Long Island’s International Heritage, co-chair of the Town of North Hempstead New Hyde Park Advisory Board , senior vice president of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 5253, and a member of the Great Neck Village Officials Association Environmental Committee for the past 12 years.
DiCamillo has been honored as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction in 2010, received a certificate of appreciation from the American Legion in 1998 and was named to the Town of North Hempstead Women’s Roll of Honor in 1994.
“I feel that New Hyde Park is the best place in the world to live and will continue to live here,” Wohlgemuth said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
“The ability to have met so many people from so many different walks of life has enriched me beyond belief,” DiCamillo added.
