Residents Receive Deserved Accolades at Recent Ceremony
Assemblymen Tom McKevitt and Dave McDonough (19th A.D.) co-sponsored a Women of Distinction ceremony Aug. 22 at the Merrick Library. Five of Garden City’s own were recognized during the festivities, including Suzie Alvey, Helen Mary Tyszka, Colleen Foley and Maureen Clancy, who was unable to attend the event.
Suzie Alvey
Suzie Alvey of Garden City has dedicated herself to preserving the aesthetic beauty of Garden City and promoting creativity and the arts in her community. Suzie is a founding member of the Garden City Bird Sanctuary (GCBS) and has volunteered her service to this 9-acre nature preserve for over 10 years. Not only does she photograph all events to boost publicity, she has also organized and managed the GCBS Art Show and has played a central role in various parades, fairs, yard sales and other services to the community sponsored by the preserve.
Suzie is also involved in the Garden City Beautification Committee, working to beautify public areas. She also works tirelessly to promote the arts among the youth of her community by organizing shows and lectures at the Garden City Public Library and serving on the Garden City PTA’s Arts-in-Education Committee. Suzie is an active member of her church community where she is involved in various activities, including the Interfaith Nutrition Network, an organization for which she volunteers. Suzie also runs Suzie Alvey Art, Inc., which is a freelance commissioned artwork business. Suzie Alvey Art, Inc. holds fundraisers to donate art to various charities and institutions within the community.
For over 25 years, Suzie has shown a great commitment to preserving the beauty of her community and promoting creativity and the arts to all those around her.
Helen Mary Tyszka
Helen Mary Tyszka of Garden City is known for her dedicated volunteerism and service. She was elected to the board of The Kosciuszko Foundation in 2002, elected corporate secretary in 2003 and served as treasurer in 2006. Helen Mary is currently a trustee and a member of the Finance and Honorary Trustee Committees. She previously served on the Executive, Executive Compensation, Nominating and Succession Planning Committees. Helen Mary is a member of numerous other organizations, including WorldatWork, the New York Compensation Association, the Polish Children’s Heartline and the Marie Sklowdowska Curie Professional Woman’s Association. Helen Mary is an active volunteer in the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, where she has been a weekday cantor since 1991 as well as a lector. She is also an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Joseph’s Parish in Garden City.
Helen Mary is a member of the adjunct faculty of the Zicklin School of Business of Baruch College. She received her certification as a compensation professional in 2001 and has worked in the human resources field, most recently spending nineteen years at Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Helen Mary has devoted her time to serving others as a volunteer and a professional and her achievements are truly honorable.
Colleen Foley
Colleen Foley of Garden City is an extremely important part of education in her community and of the health care community on Long Island. As president of the Garden City School District Board of Education, Colleen has worked tirelessly to ensure the proper education of the district’s children and has fought for resources to ensure that children get the best education available. In addition, Colleen works as the supervising nurse in the Elmont School District and has worked in various hospitals throughout her career in nursing.
Colleen has also participated in various community and civic services, including several organizations on Long Island. She has served as the president of Garden City Special Education PTA (SEPTA) and started the SEPTA Street Fair over 10 years ago. In addition, Colleen is the vice president of the Welcome Wagon and a member of TWIGS and the PTA. She is a member of many professional associations, including the National Association of School Nurses and New York State’s Association of School Nurses, School Board Association and Teacher Association. She has received many awards, including the Kathleen Kilkelly Fellowship from Molloy College in 2008 and Certification from the National Board for Certification of School Nurses in 2007, to name just a few.
Colleen has played a major role in the fields of education and health care and her generous influence is greatly appreciated.
Maureen Clancy
Maureen Clancy has been a resident of Garden City for the past 50 years. Maureen previously served as village trustee and became deputy mayor of Garden City. The village recently appointed her to its Board of Ethics. Maureen was the first woman to serve on the village board. She serves as a director on the board of New York Community Bank and Winthrop-University Hospital and currently serves on numerous other boards. In 1987, Maureen became the first female member of the Mineola – Garden City Rotary Club. Six years later, she became president of the Rotary Club. She has received countless awards, including the Garden City Jaycees Bob Hogan Citizenship Award, the Town of Hempstead’s Pathfinder Award, Garden City’s Citizen of the Year Award in 1998 and the Girl Scouts’ Juliette Low Award of Distinction, the highest adult recognition in Girl Scouting, just to name a few. Maureen also runs an insurance agency, Clancy & Clancy Brokerage, working alongside her husband, Cummin, and daughter, Maura. Having a business in Garden City inspired Maureen to become involved with the Chamber of Commerce, where she served as a director and as president from 1995-1997.
Despite her numerous business ventures and civic duties, Maureen has still found the time to be a loving mother to five children and grandmother to seven. Maureen has served her community and has undoubtedly opened the door for the involvement of women in civic and community affairs.
