Seneca Club honors community leaders at annual dinner

June 20, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Susan Quirk (center) and Dennis Quirk (right) were two of the honorees at the 117th Anniversary Dinner Dance of the Seneca Club on Thursday night. Also pictured is Steve Cohn. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Share this:

The Seneca Club of Kings County honored more than 40 local elected officials and other community leaders during its 117th Anniversary Dinner Dance at Giando’s on the Water in Williamsburg on Thursday night.

This year’s theme was “A Salute to Community Leaders and Elected Officials.” It was held in memory of photographer Israel Dear, who was a friend of the club’s.

“Our honorees are members of the community who have helped give back to their neighborhoods,” said Seneca leader and attorney Steve Cohn. “People nominate them throughout the year, and we pick those who have made the most significant impact. We honor elected officials, policemen, teachers, firemen, lawyers and law firms — people with community roots.”

The top honorees included Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, President of the Brooklyn Bar Association Frank Seddio, Dennis Quirk, Susan Quirk, Sanford Rubenstein, Assemblymember Joseph Lentol, Councilmember Stephen Levin, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Public Advocate Letitia James, State Sen. Daniel Squadron and State Committee members Nick Rizzo and Linda Minucci.

Businesses of the year included Salerno Surgical Supplies, Giando’s on the Water, Silverstein & Bast, Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburg, Wenig & Saltiel and Broadway Stages.

Women of the Year included Dealice Fuller, Monica Holowacz, Judy Pecorino, Christine Walevska, Carol DeLillo, Andrea Torre, Ramona Vergara, Anne Torre and Sadia Malik. Men of the Year included Lenny Schwartz, Rabbi Aaron Raskin, Arthur Katz, Louis Galpern, Elliott Martin, Robert Galpern, Steven Schwartz, John Peters, Rabbi David Niederman, Nicholas Stefanizzi, Joseph Hershkowitz and James Connolly.

Couples of the Year included Mr. and Mrs. John Baumrind-Vaughn, Mr. and Mrs. Guido Cianciotta, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Esposito and Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Marcus.

Recipients of the Carmine “Dusty” DeChiara and Israel Dear Community Awards included the North Brooklyn Development Corp., Townsquare, John Smolenski Mem Democratic Club, Capt. John Kimball, Det. Sal Ferrante, P.O. John Kenny, P.O. Diana Torres, Joseph Foglia, M.S. 577, Toni Herrera, Maria Murphy, Christine Singh, Christina Imbriani and Jeanny Lopez.