There is no shortage of incredible women who have made their impact on the Town of North Hempstead. Whether it be through public or private efforts, these individuals are a large measure of what makes the Town the amazing place it is in which to live, work and raise our families.
They serve as role models not only for women but for all who they come in contact with and whose lives are enriched by what they do each and every day.
Every year, we celebrate influential women of our town with the Women’s Roll of Honor. The award is named after the late May W. Newburger who served as North Hempstead supervisor from 1994-2003. May was an iconic leader who blazed a trail for women, as well as for all of us in public service.
Under normal circumstances, the town hosts a breakfast event honoring these women during the last week of March, Women’s History Month. The event is going to be in its 28th year, and it has been my great privilege to host this event for the last seven years during my tenure as town clerk.
We, unfortunately, we’re unable to move forward with the event in 2020, which normally takes place at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington and typically has attendance of over 300. In lieu of the large in-person gathering, we made arrangements to do small-scale, socially distanced presentations with each of this year’s honorees.
We could not let the year-end without giving these respectable women the recognition they so deserve. Please join me in congratulating the 2020 Women’s Roll of Honor recipients:
The 2020 Honorees
Mary Callanan, East Williston
Regina Caplice, Westbury
Jennifer DeSena, Manhasset
Eileen Devaney, Westbury
Annette Dennis, Port Washington
Francine Spilke Epstein, Kings Point
Francine Furtado, Port Washington
Jelveh Kamali, Lake Success
Monica Pavlidis, New Hyde Park
Allissa Pietrowski, Floral Park
Shirley Lee Shing, New Hyde Park
Valerie Taylor, Port Washington
Nominations for the May W. Newburger Women’s Roll of Honor are called for in January and reviewed in February of each year. The honorees are selected by the Women’s Roll of Honor Committee, an anonymous group of past honorees from every part of the town.
The committee endeavors to select two women from each council district, totaling twelve honorees. In a typical year, we get anywhere between 50 and 60 different nominations. As such, I can say with great confidence that this year’s honorees reflect the diversity that makes our Town such a special place to live.
Through humanitarian, philanthropic or volunteer service, each one of these honorees has made a lasting influence on our community, and most importantly, touched the lives of others in a self-less way.
This year’s honorees come from a wide variety of disciplines including education, religious groups, civic organizations and charities. While they come from all different backgrounds, the common thread which binds them all is their willingness to serve.
A large ceremony and tokens of esteem are hardly indicative of their achievements. We only ask that they continue to keep up their good works.
I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the contributions of the late Shirley Romaine.
Over the years, the Women’s Roll of Honor breakfast would not have been the same without her.
One of the original honorees since the event began in 1994, Shirley was invited each year to conclude the ceremony by offering heartfelt and often pointed words of advice. Shirley read poetry from the likes of Nora Ephron, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Maya Angelou.
Her lasting impact on this event, the arts and all those who came in to contact with her will not be soon forgotten.
As the event continues into the future, we look forward to hosting it in a safe and responsible manner. The Women’s Roll of Honor is a special way to honor the legacy of May W. Newburger, Shirley Romaine and the several hundred women who have given our town so much.
A full list of past honorees can be found on the Town’s website. For more information about the event, please contact the 311 Call Center. And of course, if you know someone worthy of consideration, please consider nominating them for this year’s Women’s Roll of Honor.
