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Bay Ridge Lawyers send off President Joseph Vasile in style at annual dinner

June 26, 2019 Rob Abruzzese
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After a few years of holding their annual party in Staten Island, the Bay Ridge Lawyers moved the bash back to Brooklyn, honoring outgoing President Joseph Vasile with a celebration at Gargiulo’s Restaurant in Coney Island on Friday.

More than 170 people, including more than a dozen judges and a pair of Bay Ridge elected officials, were in attendance.

“The party went off without a hitch and we all had a great time,” Vasile said. “We had an excellent turnout and the people were fantastic. It really was a culmination of an entire year’s effort.”

Councilmember Justin Brannan (left) and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (right) present Joseph Vasile with proclamations.

Nobody was surprised with the large turnout after the successful year Vasile had as president. Overall, membership was up over 25 percent for the year, Vasile said, and attendance at meetings was up more than 33 percent.

“Under Joe’s presidency, the Bay Ridge Lawyers had unprecedented turnouts at the monthly CLE meetings, which were a huge success, as well as our Atlantic City seminar, the holiday party and the year-end dinner dance which had over 170 people in attendance,” said Dominic Famulari. “Joe distinguished himself as a leader — he brought in many new members and the support from the judiciary was stellar.”

Local political leaders Councilmember Justin Brannan and State Sen. Andrew Gounardes were in attendance at the event. After past President Pat Russo introduced them, they each took turns talking about the importance of the work the association does in the community and presented Vasile with proclamations.

From left: Hon. Richard Montelione, Dominic Famulari, Joann Monaco, Stephen Spinelli, Gianna Famulari, Marisa Arrabito and Frank Claps.

“I was deeply touched and grateful that they did come, and presented me with those citations. It was a happy surprise,” Vasile said. “I’m very grateful that they lend their support to the organization.”

Gounardes has attended dinners in the past, but this was a first for Brannan, who joked that he plans on attending every year from now on.

In his speech, Vasile looked back at everything he wanted to do when he became president in September, and said that he felt that he and the association had accomplished everything they set out to do.

From left: Hon. Nancy Sunshine, Hon. Lawrence Knipel and Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine.

One of the things Vasile hoped for was to create stronger bonds with the judiciary and other bar associations, and that was evidenced by the many judges and other bar association leaders in attendance.

Vasile also admitted that he was nervous when he changed the location of the monthly meetings to Mama Rao’s Restaurant in Dyker Heights, but attributed the attendance boost to that move.

“With the new location for our meetings, there was a concern [members] may not be able to attend or get to it,” Vasile said. “Instead, it was the opposite. They embraced it, enjoyed Mama Rao’s. They had great service, excellent food and an inviting atmosphere.”

From left: Rita Ousani, President-Elect Maryann Stathopoulos, and past President Helen Galette.

Maryann Stathopoulos is now set to take the reins of the association in September. Vasile had some positive words of encouragement for her and offered some advice as well.

“She’s going to do an excellent job,” Vasile proclaimed. “She’s an extremely organized individual which is truly necessary in order to run an effective and efficient administration. She certainly has the support of myself and the rest of the membership, and we look forward to supporting her in the fall.

“She was very proactive as vice president and if she continues to do that while leaning on the other officers for help, she’ll be fine,” Vasile said. “I just told her not to sweat the small stuff, and that we’re here to help.”

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