Incoming Columbian Lawyers Association President Joe Rosato honored by Shorefront Dems

June 6, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Joseph Rosato (second from left), past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kings County and incoming president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, received the Man of the Year Award at the annual Shorefront Democratic Club Dinner. Rosato is pictured with (from left) his wife Fran Rosato, Borough President Eric Adams and District Leader Dilia Schack. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo

Share this:

The next president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, Joseph Rosato, was among the four honorees at the Shorefront Democratic Club’s annual awards dinner, which was held at Sirico’s in Dyker Heights on Wednesday, May 30.

Rossato received the Man of the Year Award. The other honorees included Elizabeth Perez, who received the Woman of the Year Award; Robert M. Guarnaccia, recipient of the Civic Award; and Sheila Boyd, recipient of the Community Service Award.

“It’s such a humbling experience to be recognized for the work I do in the community,” Rosato said. “It really means a lot to me especially coming from a group like the Shorefront Democratic Club. I have a lot of respect for it and others like it, in particular its leaders Dilia Schack and Mark Treyger. They provide vital assistance and a voice to those in the community who aren’t always heard.”

Rosato is a founding member of the Rosato Firm, PC, which specializes in personal injury and complex litigation matters. He’s actively involved in many of the local bar associations, especially the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Kings County, which he is a past president of, and the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn, where he is about to take over as president. He also recently joined the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association.

Between the bar associations and his law firm, Rosato still manages to find time to work with local Democratic clubs. He said that it’s important to him because it helps give others a leg up in the community.

“I think it’s important to support others who try to make a difference in life,” Rosato said. “I had the benefit of having great mentors and leaders in my life so at this stage in my life and career it’s important for me to give others those same opportunities. I feel that it’s an obligation to help the community and support others as best that I can.”

Perez, who won the Woman of the Year Award, taught at P.S. 160 for more than 20 years before she became active in the union and was elected chapter leader of the United Federation of Teachers and still serves as the Brooklyn borough representative.

Guarnaccia, who goes by Bob, has worked in the waste removal and recycling industry for more than 29 years. He currently serves as a vice president for major accounts at Royal Waste Services where he often works with the MTA and LIRR. Guarnaccia also is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America for more than 57 years and is affiliated with the New York Families for Autistic Children, and served on its board of directors for the last four years.

Boyd, who has worked with the NYC Department of Social Services for 37 years, lives in Coney Island, where she served as the president of the Ocean Towers Tenant Association for more than 25 years. As president, she focused on keeping local kids safe and provided them with numerous educational programs. She has also volunteered with the Alliance of Coney Island and helped organize several Brooklyn Day parades hosted by the United Community Baptist Church. She currently serves as a community liaison for state Sen. Diane Savino.

The Shorefront Democratic Club is run by district leaders Dilia Schack and Councilmember Mark Treyger. Serving the 46th Assembly District, it represents the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, Gravesend, Coney Island and Sea Gate.