at Major general Joseph a. Mcneil’s funeral on Monday, his son, Joseph a. Mcneil, Jr., far right, narrated memories of his father’s humor and warmth to his family and a large gathering of friends and officials. the funeral was held at union Baptist Church in Hempstead Village to honor Mcneil, one of the greensboro Four, who sparked a huge desegregation movement in 1960. Mcneil died on Sept. 4 at age 83.
Funeral in Hempstead for civil rights icon
Maj. Gen. Joseph A. McNeil was one of the Greensboro
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
At Monday’s funeral for Major General Joseph A. McNeil, a civil rights icon, the people filling the pews of Union Baptist Church in Hempstead were not only civic and military officials. They were McNeil’s closest neighbors and friends.
McNeil moved to Angevine Avenue in the Eldridge Estates neighborhood of Hempstead village in 1969. While continuing with civil rights involvement and with their careers, the McNeils raised their four sons and daughter (Ronny, Alan, Joseph Jr., Frank, and Jacqueline). They also built a lively network of friends.
GRemembering Uniondale’s ‘Mama Del’
Many called Delmira McFarlane’s home the first stop in the country
By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Delmira McFarlane, of Uniondale, gave many immigrants from Jamaica and Panama a chance to live the “American dream,” ushering them into the country and then putting them up in her home until they could get settled.
Four
got old enough to understand who he was.
Vanessa, who used to babysit Joseph Jr. and Frank, was in middle school with Alan.
“They showed a [civil rights] movie in our class. His mother was in the movie because she was an activist for the Indians,” Vanessa said. “Alan said, ‘That’s my mother.’ The other kids wouldn’t believe it until I told them, yes, that’s his mother. The teacher sent the movie home with Alan so Ina could see it.”
eneral McNeil sat down so we could speak up. He sat down so we could look up. And he sat down so we could never shut up.
Next door to the McNeils lived the Henry family, three of whom came to the funeral: Mrs. Fanny Henry and daughters Tanya and former Hempstead Parks Commissioner Vanessa.
REv. DR. SEDGwICK EASlEY Pastor, Union Baptist Church (Hempstead)
“When he came outside, we would just talk and have a good time,” Fanny recalled.
“He was never prideful about being one of the Greensboro Four,” said Tanya, adding that she felt honored when she
Unique Redd, a longtime teaching assistant in the Hempstead Public Schools, saw General McNeil speaking to classrooms over and over. Her young son did a report on him. “It was such an honor to know that he lived right here in Hempstead,” she said.
The general’s genuine, kind personality was recalled by his professional caretaker for the past two years, Jonathan Athena Lipscomb.
“Very talkative, very straightforward, willing to teach, loved his family very, very much,” said Lipscomb. “And he had
Affectionately known as “Mama Del” by the many she nurtured, McFarlane died of a stroke and other health complications on July 14 at age 92. Her death left a profound void in her community, but her legacy lives on in the lives she transformed — one family at a time.
“She brought over several people from Jamaica, sponsored them to come into the country, let them live in her home until they got on their feet and they could get jobs,” Nicolle, McFarlane’s youngest daughter, said.
things.”
Born in Panama on Dec. 13, 1932, McFarlane immigrated to Jamaica at age 12 and met Dorothy Lee. The two worked together at an airport in Montego Bay in the quarantine department, overseeing people with medical issues. The pair became very close, almost like sisters.
After McFarlane immigrated to the U.S., she stayed in touch with the Lee family and eventually helped them, along with a mutual friend, come to the United States from Jamaica.
M y mom believed that people are essentially good, and that if you’re a good person, you do good things.
NICollE MCFARlANE
For about a decade beginning in the 1960s, McFarlane first welcomed relatives into her home, in Cambria Heights, Queens, where she lived with her husband, Noel. In 1976, when Nicolle was 5, the family moved to Virginia for two years before settling in Uniondale in 1980 to give her children a better education.
“She believed everybody deserved a chance,” Nicolle said. “My mom believed that people are essentially good, and that if you’re a good person, you do good
“Del was like my sister, we have been through so much — I intend to write a book,” Lee said during funeral services for McFarlane in the First Baptist Church of Hempstead on July 26. “I have five kids here, nine grandkids, five great-grandkids, born here because of my sister Del.” Lee emphasized the word “born” as she spoke.
Nicolle said her mom considered Lee’s children her godchildren. What began as one act of sponsorship grew into a multigenerational legacy, with many still in close contact with the McFarlane family.
After arriving in New York in the 1960s, armed with an EB-3 visa — an employment-based green card for skilled workers — McFarlane worked as a nurse at hospitals, including Beth Israel Medical Center and at a methadone clinic in
NYS senators call for MTA audit
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
Three New York State senators called for a forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority during a press conference at the Mineola train station on Sept. 8, blasting the agency’s plan to raise Long Island Rail Road fares and have four-hour expiration limits on single-ride tickets.
The MTA proposal, released July 30, would mark the agency’s first increases since 2023, when both fares and tolls climbed by more than 4 percent. Officials say the changes are necessary to maintain service levels and support a transit system still recovering from the financial strain of the pandemic.
For the LIRR, the MTA is proposing an average 4.4 percent fare hike on one-way peak, monthly, and weekly tickets. Off-peak city tickets would increase by 25 cents, to $5.25, and peak city trips would rise to $7.25. Monthly tickets would be capped at $500. In addition, all one-way tickets would automatically activate upon purchase and expire within four hours.
State Sen. Jack Martins said commuters are being “gouged” while the MTA, which he says
operates on a $19.9 billion budget, has failed to demonstrate costcutting measures.
“I have yet to see a time when the MTA has come out and said, ‘We’re cutting our expenses, we’re cutting costs,’” Martins said. “Let’s put the burden on the MTA, and frankly, on the governor and Albany, to show some real leadership and finally bring that $19.9 billion budget into some sense of sanity.”
Martins noted that a roundtrip peak fare from Mineola to Penn Station currently costs $29, which could exceed $30 if the increase takes effect in January 2026.
“For those who don’t commute daily, that’s a steep cost for a simple trip into the city,” he said.
State Sen. Steve Rhoads echoed Martins’ concerns, describing the MTA as “addicted to spending.” He cited recurring structural deficits — nearly $2 billion last year — and a $70 billion capital plan, that he says “half of which they didn’t have the funding for.”
“If you give your kids $20 allowance on Sunday and they ask for another $20 on Thursday, you’d want to know where the first $20 went,” Rhoads said. “The governor and legislature never ask those questions of the MTA.”
Rhoads called the proposed four-hour expiration policy on single-ride tickets “absurd,” arguing that it serves no purpose other than squeezing more money from commuters.
“Stop the stupidity of trying to balance our tax on commuters,” he said.
Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick stressed that the MTA should address fare evasion, which she said costs the agency an estimated $700 million annually, rather than hiking prices for law-abiding riders.
“We keep going back to the same well,” she said. “Make sure we look at our expenses, try to cut the expenses, instead of just increasing the revenue on the backs of Long Island Rail Road commuters.”
To make matters worse for commuters, LIRR unions are threatening to strike as early as Sept. 18, after contract negotiations with the MTA stalled. Five unions, representing nearly half of the LIRR’s 7,000 employees, are seeking a 15 percent wage increase over three years, while the MTA is holding to an offer of 9.5 percent over the same period.
If the strike goes forward, it could shut down the entire commuter rail system, stranding the roughly 300,000 riders who rely
Brian Kacharaba/Herald
New York State Senators Steve Rhoads, far left, Jack Martins, and Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, are calling for an audit on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s finances.
on it each weekday. The MTA is preparing contingency plans, including shuttle buses to connect LIRR stations with subway hubs in Queens, and encouraging remote work for those who can.
A strike could still be avoided if a federal Presidential Emergency Board is appointed to mediate the dispute, a process available under federal law governing railroads. So far, no requests have been made by the unions, the MTA, or Gov. Kathy Hochul to trigger that step.
“Perhaps it’s time for the governor to reach out to the president and ask for a mediator to be appointed to avert the strike that’s really on the horizon, Sep-
tember 18th, right around the corner,” Martins said. “So, I hope that all sides come together because this region can’t afford a Long Island Rail Road strike.”
As the strike deadline approaches, the state is weighing on how best to keep the region moving if talks collapse.
“Let’s be clear: Long Islanders are now facing the possibility of a labor action on the LIRR because the Trump administration took the unprecedented and reckless step of ending federal mediation early,” said Gordon Tepper, Hochul’s Long Island press secretary. “It’s now up to the unions to come to the table and negotiate in good faith with the MTA.”
Funeral for civil rights icon Maj. Gen. J.A. McNeil
an incredible sweet tooth!”
Rev. Dr. Sedgwick Easley, pastor of Union Baptist Church, led the service. Songs, scripture readings, and heartfelt words were shared from the podium by a long list of officials and friends. Some, like Professor Dolly Chugh of New York University, emphasized their stimulating friendship with the McNeils across decades. Others focused on the importance of General McNeil’s example.
“I pray that this will motivate our students to speak truth to power,” said Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr.,
courtesy Reine Bethany General Joseph A. McNeil, right, stood with Hempstead school staffer Unique Redd on June 21, 2018. The occasion was graduation day for the students of Joseph A. McNeil Elementary School. The school had been renamed for the major general a few months earlier. McNeil visited classrooms to inspire students toward civil rights activism for over 40 years.
“especially when we have an administration now on the federal level that’s trying to roll back so many things that people have fought for.”
“General McNeil sat down so we could speak up,” said Easley. “He sat down so we could look up. And he sat down so we could never shut up. If there was ever a time that we need boldness, it’s now.”
Ina McNeil, second from left, wife of Major General Joseph McNeil, received a citation and the Hempstead Village Medal of Honor from Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., at the funeral for Maj. Gen. McNeil at Union Baptist Church on Monday.
Ina McNeil
The wife of Major General Joseph A. McNeil is a civil rights icon in herself. She was born into the Lakota Standing Rock Reservation in 1941. She grew up learning the traditional art of quiltmaking, a central means of communication and preservation of tribal history — an important skill for the great-great-granddaughter of Sitting Bull. At age 24, she converted to the Baha’i faith. She participated in civil rights work, through which she met McNeil. Her award-winning quilts have won places in museum displays, and she has taught quilting at places like the Shinnecock Reservation all her life.
A civil rights icon: Maj. Gen. Joseph A. McNeil
Born in North Carolina, Major General Joseph A. McNeil gained a full scholarship to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro in 1959, at age 17. He and three college friends (franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr./Jibreel Khazan, and david Richmond) decided to challenge the whites-only lunch counter policy of the local Woolworth’s. on february 1, 1960, they sat at the counter and refused to leave until closing time. despite resistance from the store staff and management, they returned every day, bringing more and
more students with them — several hundred by feb. 5, including white students. By April 50,000 students were participating throughout the eastern states. Their activism prompted desegregation, inspired the birth of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (a major arm of the civil rights movement), and helped lead to the civil rights acts of the 1960s.
McNeil served honorably in the Air force during the Vietnam War. He retired from active duty in 1969. With his wife Ina, whom he had met during civil rights protests when he was stationed in South
dakota, he settled on Angevine Avenue in Hempstead, where the couple raised four sons and a daughter.
McNeil worked for the federal Aviation Administration. for over 50 years, he answered countless requests to speak everywhere, including many a classroom. By the time he died, he held four honorary doctorates and numerous civic awards.
on february 27, 2018, Angevine Avenue was renamed General Joseph A. McNeil Avenue and franklin Elementary School was renamed Joseph A. McNeil Elementary School.
Photos
It was an all-hands-on-deck morning as teachers, administrators and staff at David Paterson Elementary worked to make a smooth transition back to school for the nearly 400 students in attendance. The younger students were met at the gate by staff helping them to locate their teacher before entering the building.
A sunny start to the school year
Nearly 400 students and their parents were in attendance at David Patterson Elementary to celebrate the first day of school. After nearly being closed because of a budget shortfall, David Paterson was saved thanks to $24 million in funding secured by state Sen. Siela Bynoe. The Administration, teachers and staff all came to celebrate the school. Bringing a particularly large smile to the children’s faces was Angela Y. Abrams, founder of Creative Expressions in Motion, who teaches two Empire State After-School Programs in the Hempstead School District. She waited at the gate to welcome each kindergarten through second grader with a little sunflower, which matched her costume as a full-size sunflower. Third through sixth graders, who entered through a separate location, also were greeted by their teachers wearing hats, sunflowers and other festive attire.
Members of the Hempstead Schools Board of Trustees, from left, Vice President Victor Pratt, Trustee Elise Nicholson and Trustee Lamont Johnson all donned the flower of the day to help welcome students to the first day of school. The day also included teachers in festive garb and music to help kids get in the groove of going back to school.
“We really want to thank Sen. Bynoe for making this possible,” said Interim Supt. Gary Rush, who was one of many
Joining forces to make it a great first day of school at David Paterson Elementary were, from left, Principal Linda St. John and Interim Superintendent Gary Rush, both of whom are new to their respective jobs this year.
school administrators and other officials who stopped by to encourage students to have a great year. “The first day of school is so important for the students and their families. We want all our students to have a great first day and a great year. The first day sets the tone for the year. With the hats and beads and other things, they really are saying to the students that they’re special, that today is special.”
David Patterson is home to around 400 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. This year, they also have a new principal, Linda St. John, a former teacher at David Patterson.
“It is so important that the students have the continuity of attending the same school they did in the previous year,” says St. John. “They know the teachers, have their friends here and know their way around the building. I can attest that being new can be a little frightening. We just want to help students transition from summer to the school year.”
Also attending the first day were Hempstead Schools Board of Trustee President Victor Pratt, Trustee Elise Nicholson, Trustee Lamont Johnson and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Richard Brown.
— Kepherd Daniel
Photos courtesy Hempstead schools
Rotary Club donates $30K to the INN Fundraiser supports Hempstead soup kitchen, helps feed
By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
In a heartfelt show of service, the Central Nassau Rotary Club and Foundation presented a $30,092 donation on Sept. 4, to the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead — funds raised through its “Feed the Hungry” dinner fundraiser last May at Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square. The INN, which provides meals and support services for people facing hunger and home-
The Central Nassau Rotary Club isn’t slowing down after its big donation to the INN. Next up, the club will join the Franklin Square Civic Association’s annual community yard sale on Nov. 1 at the park — an event they’ve taken part in for years.
— Rony Kessler, Rotary co-president.
lessness, operates its main soup kitchen just minutes from Uniondale, serving thousands of individuals and families each year.
Rotary members visited the Mary Brennan INN, the organization’s headquarters and largest soup kitchen, to deliver the check and learn more about the INN’s ongoing needs — all while food was still being distributed to guests in the pick-up section.
“This contribution is not just a figure; it represents hope, nourishment and the unwavering commitment of the Central Nassau Rotary Club to serve those in need within our community,” said Margaret Thomas, Rotary copresident, in a written statement.
Held annually, the “Feed the Hungry” dinner brings together Rotarians, business owners, residents and volunteers in a shared mission to address food insecurity. This year’s event raised both critical funds and awareness.
While $30,000 is a generous gift, Cynthia Sucich, the INN’s chief development and programs officer, emphasized that every dollar matters.
“$10 is a lot of money,” she said. “It’s about how people feel
and how they believe that dollar will make a difference — and it does.”
The donation came from a mix of sources, with several hundred contributors supporting the cause. About 80 people attended the dinner, and more than five dozen individuals, businesses and organizations placed ads in the event journal — all contributing to the total. Last year, the Rotary raised more than $50,000 and split the funds among several local organizations, including a $20,000 gift to the INN. This year’s total was lower, in part due to fewer members and smaller event attendance.
“The dinner itself — we had almost 160 people the year before,” said Rony Kessler, Rotary co-president. “That means more money for tickets. It means more money for the auctions. And what happened this year toward the end is we only charged people half price.”
The Rotary hopes to recruit new volunteers to bring fresh energy and ideas.
“We need some young blood with good ideas to help us,” said
Rotary co-presidents Rony Kessler and Bruce Kozlowsky presented a $30,092 donation to Cynthia Sucich, chief development and programs officer at the INN, alongside fellow co-president Margaret Thomas during a visit to the Mary Brennan INN in Hempstead on Sept. 4.
Bruce Kozlowsky, Rotary co-president. “We’re here for the community. That’s what matters.”
The INN serves hot meals five days a week and provides to-go meals as well. It operates shelters for families and single men, and its resource center offers housing assistance, legal support and social services. The organization is planning to open a new 20,000-square-foot building that will feature a boutique for donated clothing and a guestchoice food pantry. The expan-
sion is expected to be completed by December. Rotary leaders say their support of the INN goes beyond donations, noting past clothing drives and equipment funding for the soup kitchen. Members credited the dinner’s success to the generosity of attendees and the dedication of volunteers. The club reaffirmed its commitment to the Rotary motto: “Service Above Self.” For more information on how to donate to the INN contact info@the-inn.org.
ROOSEVELT CHILDREN’S ACADEMY CHARTER
Stacy Driks/Herald
TOWN
Robert T. Kennedy, Mayor Freeport Village
Youngest students receive a warm welcome Jamboree celebrates start of new school year
By ALEXIA CROLL Intern
The Uniondale School District welcomed its youngest learners with games, crafts, music and dancing at the Pre-K and Kindergarten Jamboree Aug. 22, in anticipation of the 2025-26 school year. Held at Cornelius Court Elementary School, the event brought together district staff, Parent Teacher Association members and community partners including the Uniondale Public Library, Precision Boxing School, Prodigy School of the Arts, the SCOPE after-school program and the EPIC agencies to help pre-K and kindergarten students and their families meet their teachers, learn about programs and connect with peers before classes began.
“We want our children to be set up for success and be excited about the year,” Milerbin Genao, the district’s director of early childhood education said. “Our goal is to ensure that families feel supported, that their children feel excited about the school year, that there’s a familiar face when they get into the school year, because that’s just going to set the child up for success, and that’s our goal.”
The district prides itself in its diversity and its commitment to bilingual education. The dual-language program, now in its third year, is open to all students, regardless of their first language.
“Anyone that wants to be bilingual is welcome,” Genao explained. “We have monolingual English speakers, students who speak Haitian Creole or Spanish at home, and even some who will become trilingual. Our goal is for students to be bilingual, bicultural and biliterate, starting as early as kindergarten.”
Superintendent Monique DarrisawAkil emphasized the importance of building strong relationships before the first day of school.
“We believe that transitions are so important for our children and for our families,” she said. “The more that we can fortify those relationships with our families before school starts, we can have a more successful school year.”
Darrisaw-Akil also highlighted the district’s vision for the future. “We think big — but we act small, and we make changes quickly,” she said. “We have ambitious plans, but it’s really about every last child meeting their potential and being prepared for the future they want, whether it’s college, careers, entrepreneurship. We want to build that strong foundation so they’re prepared for whatever they want in the future.”
Frantz Dorsainvil, assistant principal of Northern Parkway Elementary School, who has served in the Uniondale community for over two decades, emphasized how much childhood education is a com-
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Photos courtesy Uniondale school district Families and future students gathered for the Pre-K and Kindergarten Jamboree, enjoying music, games and activities ahead of the new school year.
munal effort.
“I would like to see parents, community members, homeowners get back and involved in the educational process, even though they may not have younger children,” Dorsainvil said. “They need to use their voice during the process.” He added, “The big takeaway for parents — that we hope, because we have many parents who are not born and raised here — is that the community is here for them. It may be different than what they’re used to, but we want to let them know that they are welcome and we are here to support them.”
With events like the jamboree, Union-
Uniondale school district Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil and Milerbin Genao, director of early childhood education, energized the crowd at the start of the district’s Pre-K and Kindergarten Jamboree.
dale continues to foster a welcoming environment in which every child and parent can feel at home. “We are one town, one team, one family,” Northern Parkway’s second Assistant Principal Sharicka Jackson said, echoing the district’s belief that strong partnerships among schools, families and the wider community are the foundation for student success.
SALADINO TOWN SUPERVISOR
The Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs Workforce Development Center in Collaboration with the Town of Oyster Bay Workforce Partnership and the NYS Department of Labor Present
MEGA CAREER EXPO
To connect job seekers with employers, training providers and career resources. It also services as a networking and recruitment event designed to promote employment opportunities, workforce development and professional growth. Bring your CV/Resume & Drivers Bring your Abstract
OFFERING POSITIONS IN: • Healthcare • Education • Manufacturing • Technology • Government • Retail • MTA and LIRR • Hospitality • Armed Forces • Law Enforcement • Energy & Utilities • Construction Trades
NASSAU VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM
1255 Hempstead Tpke | Uniondale
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 • 10:00am-2:00pm
Early entrance will be available from 9:00am to 10:00am for Seniors, Veterans and Individuals that are Physically Challenged to avoid crowds.
Please Register with the QR Code or visit: https://app.nassaucountyny.gov/oma/event-registration/event-form For more information contact: Runnie Myles 516-402-7372 or Alicia Williams 516-572-1061
OFFICE OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
One West Street, Suite 136, Mineola | 516-572-2240 Follow Us on Social Media:
Man charged after alleged assault, injuries to officers
A Uniondale man faces multiple charges after allegedly hitting a woman and later injuring three police officers during a struggle on Sunday night.
CONCERTS
ASHLEY M c BRYDE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH |
Police said officers responded to a disturbance at a home on Campus Street around 10 p.m. The incident began as a verbal argument between Everton Brooks, 28, and a 22-year-old woman, according to detectives.
The dispute turned physical, police said, when Brooks allegedly threw the woman’s cellphone at her, hitting her in the head, and then punched her sev-
eral times in the face. Fearing for her safety, the woman left the home and called 911.
When officers attempted to arrest Brooks, police said he became violent and combative. Three officers were injured during the struggle and required hospital treatment. Brooks was also taken to a hospital for evaluation, along with the woman.
Brooks is charged with three counts of seconddegree assault, thirddegree assault, seconddegree harassment, fourthdegree criminal possession of a weapon, second-
degree obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest. He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.
Man stabbed during dispute in Uniondale Park
A man was arrested after allegedly stabbing another man with a box cutter during a dispute in Uniondale Park on Saturday afternoon. Ronaldo Tomlinson, 23, approached a 31-year-old man around noon at the park on 710 Uniondale Ave. An argument broke out, police
said, which escalated when Tomlinson allegedly punched the man in the face.The victim tried to defend himself, at which point Tomlinson pulled out a small box cutter knife and stabbed the man twice in the back and slashed him near the right ear.
Tomlinson is charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was scheduled to be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.
— Stacy Driks
— Stacy Driks
Everton Brooks
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
6:00-9:00PM
The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York
TO PURCHASE
TICKETS VISIT
richnerlive.com/ healthcare-awards or scan here
For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato
Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x224
KRISTIN
Investigative Reporter
Law&Crime Network
HEALTHCARE LEGACY AWARD
MICHAEL J. DOWLING
President & CEO
Northwell Health
HEALTHCARE VISIONARIES
AWARD
JOHN K. D’ANGELO, MD, FACEP CEO-elect Northwell Health
KERRI ANNE SCANLON, MSN, RN, FAAN
SVP & President
Glen Cove, Plainview, and Syosset Hospitals Northwell Health
KIMON BEKELIS, MD, FAANS, FACS, FAHA
Director
The Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island THE TEAM AT LIVEONNY
DONALD T. MORRISH, MD, MMM
CEO
Episcopal Health Services
DYNAMIC DUO AWARD
VANESSA BAIRD-STREETER
President & CEO
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
LORI ANDRADE
Executive Vice President
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
POWER COUPLE AWARD
LINDA HARKAVY, MD
Founder, CEO and Medical Director
Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness
MITCHELL GOLDSTEIN, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon and Co-Founder Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
THE CASEY SKUDIN 343 FUND
COMMUNITY HEALTH
CHAMPIONS AWARD
INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC CENTER TEAM
Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health
THE MENDING HEARTS COUNSELING TEAM
THE LEND TEAM
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities
Stony Brook University
TRAILBLAZERS IN HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY AWARD
THE TEAM AT VEDI ROBOTICS INC.
EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE HONOREES
JESSICA COLON BOHANNON
Founder & Board President
Long Island Nurses Honor Guard, Inc.
JORDAN BRODSKY, MD, FACR
Rheumatologist
Rheumatology Consultants
BRIAN CABEZAS
COO
People’s Arc of Suffolk
NICHOLAS DIPIETRO
Clinic Director, Family Treatment and Recovery Centers
Professor and Director, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Hypermobility Treatment Center
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
ALLA SHENKMAN, MD
PM Pediatric Care
ROUMIANA T. TZVETKOVA, DDS, DMD
Owner
Aspen Dental - Deer Park
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK
11,
NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2006 EQ2 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-EQ2, Plaintiff, Against IVY HAY, MAHALIA POWELL, SANDRA KING, et al Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/05/2020, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 10/1/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 155 Rhodes Avenue, Hempstead, New York 11550, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 44 Block 31 Lot 89 and 244. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $699,445.76 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 611292/2017 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. Leslie Lowenstein, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 8/4/2025 File Number: 18-301499 CA 155380
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY NATIONSTAR
MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A
MR. COOPER, Plaintiff against JAWAD MAALIK, OR THE SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST, IF ANY, OF SAID
DEFENDANT WHO MAY BE DECEASED, AND THE RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, ASSIGNEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSONS, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFF, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s)
Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered April 16, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 24 Parkside Road, West Hempstead, NY 11552. Sec 38. Block 98 Lot 115. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being near Malverne, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $921,717.30 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 607131/2018. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Michael Alpert, Esq., Referee File # YNSJN092 155387
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, -againstYOLANDA MALDONADO, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on April 18, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT is the Plaintiff and YOLANDA MALDONADO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 1, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 30 PIERSON AVENUE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550; and the following tax map identification: 36-46-9 & 10. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TOWN AND VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617871/2019. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
155389
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST JEAN R. CETOUTE, MARIE CAZILIA HORACIUS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 27, 2017, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 46 Dorlon Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 12, Lot 255. Approximate amount of judgment $525,039.42 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #004700/2015.
Stephanie S. Goldstone, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 00-304320 86763 155341
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. FNA DZ, LLC, Pltf. vs. MICHAEL MOSSA, Defts. Index #606519/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 6, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on September 30, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a Section 34, Block 284 Lot 236. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held, “rain or shine.”
BRIAN J. DAVIS, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021.- #102481 155359
Plaintiff, vs. 18 CORNWALL LN LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 30, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 18 Cornwall Lane, Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 34, Block 436 and Lot 142. Approximate amount of judgment is $557,364.09 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 602076/2024. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Polsinelli PC, Robert H. King, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff 155373
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, -againstVALERIE MCFADDEN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF HENRIETTA HENDERSON, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 10, 2025, wherein FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and VALERIE MCFADDEN AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE TO THE ESTATE OF HENRIETTA HENDERSON, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501,
on October 7, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 17 COURTENAY ROAD, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550; tax map identification 34-440-13-15; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE, OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 612838/2019.
Brian J. Davis, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155540
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST II, -againstJEFFREY MOYSE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 24, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST II is the Plaintiff and JEFFREY MOYSE, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE,
MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 7, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 12 LAFAYETTE AVENUE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550; tax map identification 34-210-73; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606271/2023. Brian J. Davis, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155542
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Roselore Chavre, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm, premises known as 64 Beebe Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York, SECTION: 36, BLOCK: 263, LOT: 33. Approximate amount of judgment $497,106.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold
subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614038/2018. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-093122-F00 86793 155482
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-WFHE3, ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-WFHE3, Plaintiff AGAINST CARL CRAWFORD, DONNA ROCHESTER, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM, premises known as 586 Mead Terrace, South Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36 Block 202 Lot 994. Approximate amount of judgment $543,788.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616414/2023. Cary David Kessler, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 23-003446 86855 155484
LEGAL NOTICE Invitation to Bidders BOARD OF EDUCATION Hempstead Union Free School District SED PCN 28-02-01-03-0-002-018
(Joseph A. McNeil School) SED PCN 28-02-01-03-0-003-019 (David Paterson School)
Public Notices
SED PCN
28-02-01-03-0-004-018
(Jackson Main School)
SED PCN
28-02-01-03-0-006-019
(Barack Obama School)
SED PCN
28-02-01-03-0-020-032 (Hempstead High School)
PUBLIC NOTICE: is hereby given for separate sealed bids for: Capital Improvements - GC/MC Rebid II (2022 Bond Ph. III) at Barack Obama, David Paterson, Jackson Main, Joseph McNeil and Hempstead High School. Bids will be received by the Purchasing Agent, on or before September 25, 2025 at 1PM in the District Business Office, located at 15 East Marshall Street, Hempstead New York, 11550, and publicly opened and read aloud at 3PM in the ABGS Middle School Band Box, located at 70 Greenwich Street, Hempstead New York, 11550.
The Contract Documents may be examined at the Office of the Architect, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, P.C., 244 East Main Street, Patchogue New York, (631-475-0349); however the Contract Documents may only be obtained thru the Office of Biddy c/o Lohrius Blueprint, 226 Newtown Road, Plainview, New York 11803 (516-465-2880) beginning on September 8, 2025. Complete digital sets of Contract Documents shall be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a nonrefundable fee of OneHundred ($100.00) Dollars at the following website: bbs.biddyhq.com. Optionally, in lieu of digital copies, hard copies may be obtained directly from Lohrius Blueprint upon a deposit of OneHundred ($100.00) Dollars for each complete set. Checks
for deposits shall be made payable to the DISTRICT, HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT and may be uncertified. All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above referenced websites.
Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued.
There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit for hard copies will be returned upon receipt of plans and specifications, in good condition, within thirty days after bid date, except for the lowest responsible bidder, whose check will be forfeited upon the award of the contract.
The Contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or the proposals will be rejected within 45 days of the date of opening proposals. Bids shall be subject, however, to the discretionary right reserved by the School District to waive any informalities, accept or reject any alternatives, reject any proposals and to advertise for new proposals, if in its opinion the best interest of the School District will thereby be promoted.
Each bidder may not withdraw their bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof. A bidder may withdraw their bid only in writing and prior to the bid opening date.
By Order of:
The Board of Education Hempstead Union Free School District
Dated: September 4, 2025 166672
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU.
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS2, Plaintiff -against- JOSE D. LOPEZ CASTELLON A/K/A JOSE D. LOPEZCASTELLON; REINA M. LOPEZ A/K/A REINA M. LOPEZ-CATELLON, et al
Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 19, 2025 and entered on March 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on October 16, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Gladys Avenue, distant 230 feet Easterly from the corner formed by the intersection of the Southerly side of Gladys Avenue and the Easterly side of Nostrand Place; being a plot 140 feet by 60 feet by 140 feet by 60 feet. Section: 34 Block: 403 Lots: 120, 121, 123 Said premises known as 126 GLADYS AVENUE, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550
Approximate amount of lien $408,140.48 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 605595/2023.
HOWARD COLTON, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604 {* HEMPSTEAD*} 155630
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLEY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff, vs. MILTON DAVIDSON, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 2, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 46 Peters Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36, Block 50 and Lot 142. Approximate amount of judgment is $479,741.01 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611100/2018. Cash will not be accepted.
Audra A. Divone, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 155677
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
Faith, family and kindness defined her life
Harlem. Her career was defined by compassion — but her most lasting impact came from what she did after her shifts were over.
Hosting families became a tradition for her, welcoming multiple relatives from Panama into her home and offering them a place to stay until they were able to get back on their feet.
She also opened her doors to Nicolle’s friends, who were experiencing hardship, often letting them stay rent-free, or for very little. One such friend posted a tribute and a thank you to the memorial website, acknowledging McFarlane’s kindness.
“We might have had someone living with us for two years, then they would move, and then we would house another for three. Someone might need five years,” Nicolle said. “That’s just how we grew up.”
Nicolle said her mom’s influence stretched across borders, with friends from Jamaica, England, Canada and Panama calling her frequently. She kept a landline phone — refusing to switch — so longtime friends abroad could always find her.
Her memorial service drew tributes from across the United States and abroad on a two-hour livestream. However, in person, dozens of speakers shared stories of how she changed their lives and what an incredible person she was to them.
READ THEM
Annie O’Loughlin was one of Lee’s five children to immigrate to America. At the funeral service, O’Loughlin described McFarlane as a four-leaf clover — “rare to find, but a privilege to have.”
“That’s a big deal when you have your own family,” O’Loughlin said. “Now you need to take another family, but she
didn’t even blink an eye.”
Her generosity also extended into the community and her more than 30-year dedication to the First Baptist Church of Hempstead, where she volunteered with Sunday school, Bible study and community events. Even when she could no longer attend in person, she stayed connected virtually and made regular donations.
“One of the greatest blessings I received was her friendship,” David Vilceus, the church’s pastor, said.
Vilceus joined the church in the summer of 2022 and only knew McFarlane for a short time, but said he quickly saw her strong faith.
“She loved her family. She loved her church family,” he said. “She didn’t realize this, but I would often go and visit her, not to encourage her but to seek her encouragement. To me, she always knew exactly what to say.”
Cecilia Lawson moved next door to McFarlane in Uniondale, and it was only after they greeted each other that they realized they had known each other as children in Panama.
That unexpected reunion grew into a 40-year friendship. Their bond extended to Lawson’s children and grandchildren, many of whom regarded McFarlane as a second mother and grandmother.
“She didn’t just preach about God — she lived it,” Nicolle said. “She believed you help others simply because you can.”
“I don’t know anyone who impacted more people’s lives,” Nicolle said. “And I don’t know many people who could say something negative about her. And if you could find someone, you’d find at least 30 people to tell you that person was lying.”
McFarlane is survived by her four children, Robert, Maria, Nicolle and Courtenay, and an extended chosen family that spans continents.
Courtesy McFarlane family
delmira “mama del” mcfarlane, known for her generosity and unwavering faith, opened her home to generations of families in need. She died on July 14 at age 92.