Honoring Three of Port's Inspirational Women

The May Newburger Women's Honor Roll celebrated Women's History Month during its 17th annual breakfast which recognized inspiring women in the Town of North Hempstead. The event, which was held at the Roslyn Claremont Hotel and hosted by Town Clerk Leslie Gross, was a celebration of outstanding women in the community.

Out of the 16 women honored, three were Port Washington residents.

"It is a spectacular and important opportunity to recognize the amount these women have done for our community," Supervisor Jon Kaiman said. "The common denominator in all of them is that they have all touched people's lives in one way or another."

Along with Gross and Kaiman, Legislator Wayne Wink, the North Hempstead Town Board, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman, as well as other officials, friends, and family gathered to honor these exceptional women. In order to be recognized for this prestigious award, residents must nominate an admirable woman in their hometown, and panels of anonymous judges ultimately decide who the honorees will be.

Gross said the Port Washington women, as well as the other recipients of the award, are exemplary members of the community and consistently give back to the town.

Port Washington North resident Debbie Greco Cohen said she was shocked when she heard about the nomination. She was honored for her many years of dedicated volunteer work in the Port Washington community. "I believe my greatest accomplishment is my involvement with seniors," she said. "It is so important for them to have a nutritious meal and a place to spend their day enjoying friends and activities." Greco Cohen serves on the Executive Board of Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and is President of the Board of the Port Washington Senior Citizens Center. She is also active in the community-wide event, Harborfest, which takes place each summer.

Rita Tanski, also a resident of Port Washington North who was honored at the ceremony, said she believes that in order to be successful, women must "become involved in their town." Tanski has been an active member of the community for more than 30 years and has been president, vice president, secretary, and program chair in the Women's League of Voters.

"Helping people give is rewarding, and I love doing so," Tanski said. "May Newburger is an amazing woman and I thank her for this opportunity. I was almost speechless when I learned of my nomination."

Tanski has participated in many distinguished organizations in and around Port Washington and is a retired senior nutritionist from the Hospice Care Network. Reed E. Phillips, former senior medical director of Hospice Care Network, said he had the pleasure of working with Tanski for more than a decade. "I found her to be a remarkable expert in her field of expertise — nutrition," Phillips said. "She was a great help to me in the care of my patients. Furthermore, she was one of the most wonderful persons I have had the pleasure of working with in the healthcare field during my career."

Honoree Sally Wendkos Olds is a dedicated member of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington and has lived in Port Washington for many years.

She said she pursued her greatest passions by building a library in Nepal and sponsoring two cleft palette surgeries in Nepal. "Those were the most humbling experiences I have ever had," Wendkos Olds said.

Wendkos Olds, who has participated in several marathons including a New York City Marathon to celebrate her 60th birthday, said she was blown away by the accomplishments of all of the other women who were recognized.

"I am very honored to be getting this award, and I am so impressed by the other women involved," she said. "All I want to say is follow your dreams; try the things you think you can't do."

The other women honored were Patricia Bruno Golden of East Williston, Miriam Chatinover of Great Neck, Linda Cohen of Great Neck, Connie Dziomba of Garden City Park, Yvette Edidin of Roslyn, Ann Forte of Mineola, Marilyn Gottlieb of North Hills, Carmen Krauss of East Hills, Sandy Portnoy of New Hyde Park, Rose Romano of Westbury, Lois Schaffer of Great Neck, Jonai Singh of Manhasset Hills, and Delores V. Smalls of Westbury.

"The Town of North Hempstead extends its congratulations to the amazing women who were honored," Gross said. "These women's tenacity for change and wellness resonates within our beloved community."