The beautiful Hillside Library, 155 Lakeville Road, in New Hyde Park, celebrated its fifth year of relocation last Friday (as you might remember, it used to be in the basement of the New Hyde Park Village Hall) with a gala reception to celebrate the dedication of a book aisle to Palma (Pam) Pursino, a former trustee, who was beloved at the library and who passed away on February 20, 2011.
The library was packed with family, friends and library personnel who truly cared for Pursino and who all genuinely miss her spirit, her friendship and most of all her ability to always bring a bright smile and encouraging word to all she worked with.
Trustee Richard Bursig, who was speaking on behalf of Library Board President Maura Rossi, who was unable to attend, pointed out that during the construction of the new library, it was Pam who kept everyone on an even kneel, even when things went terribly wrong, which is apt to happen in the construction of a new building.
Library Director Charlene Noll also spoke and pointed out that each book that will be displayed on the Pam Pursino bookcase will also have a nameplate inside the book dedicating it to Pursino.
Perhaps the most poignant moment came when Pam’s husband, Lou, got up and gave a truly moving tribute to his wife and finished it with the following poem, which he said one of his sons was going to eventually turn into a song.
Irreplaceable
Irreplaceable is what she is
Everything she did, she did like a Wiz
Stories about her, everyone had one
Take time to listen it’s something
You don’t want to be missing;
Loving and caring to anyone near
Advise and encouragement to anyone
That would hear.
The one to call on always there
A helping hand to understand.
Loyal, selfless, beautiful and strong
Everyone’s best friend the
Short and the long
Irreplaceable is what she is
Everything she did as a Wiz.
Taking care of things, then and now
Way ahead there is no doubt.
Wife, mother, lover and friend
Nothing too difficult even to the end.
The library had originally scheduled a Beatles cover band concert to perform for the event (mostly because The Beatles was a favorite of Pam’s and her husband, Lou, but some of the members were ill and so the library will reschedule this very popular event.
