________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD
Two Generations Working Together
Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Electric vehicle chargers at plaza
Rental lockers at the boardwalk
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Vol. 37 No. 33
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2026
For All Your Real Es tate Needs Joyce Jonathan Coletti Gottesmann 516.31 3.2700
718.496.6389
$1.00
Class of 1963 still meets to swap stories senior year. “We would all go there to talk about anything, but mostly after our dates.” Lutwin explained that many “There’s no friend like an old friend,” Stu Davis, presi- of the former classmates at last dent of Long Beach High week’s gathering met in grade School’s class of 1963, said at school, most of them having the group’s most recent infor- attended the now closed Cenmal reunion on Aug. 6. Davis, tral Elementary School, or who is still known affectionate- made other childhood connecly as Stuey to his tions. longtime friends, “We were high was one of 14 area school sweetattendees at the gethearts,” Joyce together for a class Segal said of her that, 63 years ago, husband, Davis. had nearly 350 grad“But we met in Sunuates. day School at TemThe friends met ple Emanu-El in at the Texas Ranger sixth grade.” The restaurant in Freecouple will celeport, as they have brate their 60th every month or two wedding anniversafor the past several RICK HERmAN ry next year. years, to celebrate Long Beach High Over the years, t h e m o s t r e c e n t School class of 1963 the class has held birthdays of those the traditional who are still local. The restau- reunions — on the 25th, 30th, rant gatherings date back to 50th and 60th anniversaries of their school days, when the their graduation — at larger Texas Ranger was the go-to venues with more invitees, hangout spot on Long Beach including those who have Road in Island Park, before it moved out of state. Linda Giles, closed roughly 50 years ago. who turned 80 on July 23 and “We would go there after our was the youngest of the group dates or after football games,” that gathered last week, said recounted David Lutwin, who that favorite teachers were also began dating his future wife, invited to attend the earlier Lois Halpern, during their ContinueD on Page 10
By CHRIS ColUCCI
ccolucci@liherald.com
T
Courtesy Catherine Lewis
Catherine Lewis, third from left, became the first female career Fire Department lieutenant in Long Beach. Promoted on July 30, she was surrounded by family and friends.
Catherine Lewis is first female career lieutenant in LBFD history By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
Having grown up on Staten Island, 34-year-old Catherine Lewis can recall the heroics of first responders who rushed to Lower Manhattan during the Sept. 11 attacks. The act of terrorism became the driving force in her becoming the first female career firefighter in the Long Beach Fire Department — and now the department’s first female lieutenant. As early as age 9, Lewis dreamed of joining the New York City Fire Department. Her mother, Mary Lewis, was a cousin of the late Stephen Siller, a firefighter who died on 9/11. Hearing his story left an impression on Catherine. “Knowing his legacy, and just how much his story meant to my family and the com-
munity, exposed me to the camaraderie of the firehouse, and knowing that you have people with you,” she said. Lewis’s grit and focus stems from her background as a student athlete. She played on the basketball team at the now defunct St. Peter’s Girls High School, which won three Staten Island New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championships as well as a New York Archdiocesan title in 2009. She went on to play at Colgate University, in upstate Hamilton, and graduated in 2014 with a degree in sociology. At that point, Lewis said, she submitted her name to be placed on a waitlist for the FDNY. Lewis earned a master’s degree in education at Hunter College, and then taught pre-K in Jamaica, Queens, as part of the Teach for America program, which works to ContinueD on Page 5
ime disappears. You recapture something that was fun and unique.