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A memory blossoms into generosity In 2023, Gallart formalized his annual tradition into the of the Bellmore Herald nonprofit organization dedicated to his daughter, Desirae GalJoseph Gallart, one of Mer- lart, who died in 2010 at the age rick’s most prolific altruists, of 24. During that year, Gallart has laid out the plans for the collected 6,600 toys, which set a third annual Desirae’s Darlings new record. That milestone was toy drive to bring holiday spirit surpassed in 2024, with over to those in need. 9,300 donations — in total, GalFor almost a decade, Joe Gal- lart collected and distributed lart’s holiday season mission 26,000 toys. has been clear: to ensure that “I can’t imagine what it’s no child goes withlike to get on a holiout a gift to unwrap. day and not have a Most of Gallart’s toy as a child,” he donations are given said. “My goal is to to the national nons e e t h at d o e s n’ t profit Toys for Tots happen to kids. And or organizations in I think that it’s the Nassau County best way that I can such as Cohen Chilpreserve my daughdren’s Medical Center’s memory.” MARCElo GAllINA ter. Gina Bennicasa, His passion for Joseph Gallart’s Gallart’s wife, comc o l l e c t i n g t o y s friend mended his leaderbegan in 2016 and ship in the commuhas grown each year since. In nity. 2017, he wound up with around “He puts so much heart and 150 toys. soul into this — I was so blown “In 2022, we delivered 5,000 away and impressed with the toys,” Gallart said. “I decided, coordination that he had with you know what? I’m going to this huge group,” Bennicasa form this charitable organiza- said. “He works tirelessly. He’s tion, in my daughter’s name so passionate about it.” and memory, and going forward Bennicasa said Desirae we’ll collect toys each year, and would be tremendously proud we’ll do it for Desirae’s Dar- of her father for what the charilings.” CoNtiNuED oN paGE 12
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo & JoRDAN VAlloNE
Courtesy Jamel Badrieh
North Bellmore resident and former John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School custodian Ray Bernardo turned 100 years old on Sept. 20.
Celebrating a century of memories Longtime resident and WWII vet Bernardo turns 100 By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
When Ray Bernardo was born, the world looked quite different. Gasoline cost less than a quarter, Babe Ruth was swatting home runs for the New York Yankees, and F. Scott Fitzgerald had just published his timeless classic “The Great Gatsby.” A century later, Bernardo — a World War II veteran and longtime North Bellmore resident — can say he lived through eras of transformation, both on a global and local scale. On Sept. 20, he turned 100 years old, surrounded by family and friends who gathered to honor a man who has impacted countless lives. “It’s more like a shock,” he said of reaching the milestone. “I have all of my faculties, and I don’t forget anything. I have a good memory.”
Bernardo was born in Rockville Centre, the second youngest of 13 children of Francesco and Lena, an Italian immigrant family from Benevento. Ten of his siblings were girls. One of his brothers passed away when Ray was just four months old, but his sister Nicki lived to be 112. His brother George, 94, is his only surviving sibling. Francesco Bernardo was a builder, but he never became a U.S. citizen after emigrating. That meant his children were automatically citizens of both Italy and the United States. Under Italian nationality law, sons and daughters can claim Italian citizenship jure sanguinis “by right of blood” if their father was an Italian citizen at the time of their birth. Being born in the U.S. automatically granted Ray American citizenship, but it did not CoNtiNuED oN paGE 15
I
n this little circle of the world, he is a giant.