Two from Brooklyn receive Appellate Division Mollen Awards

December 3, 2019 By Caroline Ourso

Maj. Michael Losi (right) was presented with the Mollen Award by Hon. Matthew D’Emic (left) during a ceremony at the Appellate Division on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Janice Van Dyk (not pictured), associate clerk at the Appellate Division, Second Department, was also among the eight honorees that day. Eagle photos by Caroline Ourso

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Two court employees from Brooklyn were honored, along with six other state court employees, with the Milton Mollen Commitment to Excellence Award during a ceremony at the Appellate Division, Second Department, in Brooklyn Heights on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Maj. Michael Losi, head of security operations at the Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, and Janice Van Dyk, associate clerk at the Appellate Division, Second Department, both received awards.

The Mollen Awards are now in their ninth year. Named for the court’s former presiding justice Hon. Milton Mollen, who died in 2017, the awards are given out each year at the Appellate Division courthouse on Monroe Place.

Hon. Alan Scheinkman (left), presiding justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, with Scott Mollen at the ninth annual Mollen Awards. Justice Scheinkman talked about how important Janice Van Dyk, who could not attend the event, is to their court.

Justice Mollen’s son, Scott Mollen, opened this year’s ceremony by recalling his father’s sterling character, loyalty and commitment to the court system. He explained that the honorees are chosen each year because they best fit in with what the late justice represented.

“He was always very grateful for the opportunity to help people, and that’s what each and every one of the honorees do every day,” Mollen said. “My father is looking down, and he’s thinking that he’s very happy to have his name associated with each of you.”

Justice Matthew D’Emic, administrative judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, introduced Losi. The two work closely together as they both have offices at 320 Jay St.

Valerie Buzzell speaks during the Milton Mollen Commitment to Excellence Awards ceremony in the Supreme Court Appellate Division, second department, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.

“Mike unfailingly respects the integrity, dignity and individuality of the men and women he supervises and everyone he works for,” said D’Emic. “He is constantly modest, quietly confident, and, dare I say it, serene in storms.”

Losi expressed deep gratitude for the honor.

“I’ve been to some of these ceremonies in the past,” said Losi, “and I’ve seen some of the previous recipients, and for someone to consider me in their class, that’s very special to me.”

Van Dyk, an associate clerk for the Appellate Division, Second Department, was unable to attend the event.

“Janice didn’t know she was getting this award when she planned her vacation,” said Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman, so the award was presented to her a week prior.

“There is no task too big or too small for Janice to take on,” said Justice Scheinkman, reiterating some of his earlier comments about Van Dyk’s work ethic and why she deserves the award. “She is really emblematic of qualities possessed by former Presiding Justice Milton Mollen.”

Other award recipients this year were Valerie Buzzell, the principal local area network administrator for the Ninth Judicial District; Rosalie Fitzgerald, chief clerk of Nassau County Family Court; Rosann Romanelli, senior court clerk of Suffolk County County Court; Lawrence Jones, a supervising court aide in Queens County Criminal Court; Jeffrey Alfano, a chief court attorney in Richmond County Supreme Court; and Ellen Tallevi, a senior court analyst for the grievance committee of the Second Department.