April 4, 2012

GONSALVES HONORS 2012 TRAILBLAZER IN THE NEW MILLENIUM

Deputy Presiding Officer Legislator Norma L. Gonsalves recently named Lucille Siegel, a resident of East Meadow, as one of the Nassau County Legislature’s  2012 “Women: Trailblazer in the New Millennium” honorees. “Lucille is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication to an idea. I am very proud to be here presenting this award to a more than deserving recipient,” said Gonsalves.

Lucille is actively involved with her Temple Theater Group, making all the costumes, designing and making the scenery and props for all the shows. She is also involved with Temple functions, is a member of the sisterhood, and serves on the maintenance, membership and social action committees.  She coordinates Sabbath dinners for temple members and helps serve meals for the holidays and religious functions. She was also involved with PTA serving as PTA President at Woodland Jr. High School and as a member of PTA at East Meadow High School. Lucille began volunteering at the Parent Child Home Program as an early intervention instructor and was offered part time employment.  She was a nurse educator for over ten years and taught parents nutrition and diet for children, health care for sick and well children and the necessity of immunizations. 

Lucille loves to garden.  She discovered the A. Holly Patterson Nursing Facility had a defunct garden behind its building. With the help of a therapist at the facility, she set out to revitalize the garden for the residents.  The raised garden beds were repaired or replaced and the gardens replanted. Lucille began making United States flag pins after 9/11 to raise money for the families of the victims, raising several thousand dollars for the IPEW Local #3 Disaster Fund and the Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.  Lucille read in the local newspaper that several people who died in the towers were to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in October 2001. She started training and in October 2002 Lucille participated in her first Avon Walk in memory of the victims of 9/11.  She walked in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 raising over $25,000 for these walks.

Lucille spearheaded a Chinese Auction Breast Cancer Fundraiser in October 2011 in memory of the victims of 9/11.  Soliciting merchandise and services from local merchants she collected enough for over 150 baskets and raised an additional $3,825 for Breast Cancer research.  Her goal was to show the community what our local merchants have to offer and to encourage more support of our local businesses.

Pictured (l-r): DPO Legislator Norma Gonsalves, honoree Lucille Siegel and her husband Paul.