Politics & Government
RVC Resident Honored at ToH 'Make a Difference' Awards
Dr. Steven Mendelsohn, of RVC, was recognized for his work at Zwanger-Pesiri radiology.
On Tuesday evening, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and the Town Board celebrated 13 extraordinary people for their contributions to the communities they live in.
For the past 14 years, the Make a Difference Awards have honored those who selflessly contribute to the greater good.
Supervisor Murray gave the opening speech at the ceremony, which was held at Hempstead Town Hall.
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"This is a very special evening for our town," she said. "We're joining together as a community to recognize individuals who have positively and profoundly made a difference in our lives."
"Volunteerism is alive and well in our town, I'm happy to say," she dded.
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The recipients of the award come from all walks of life, but all hold something in common: the belief that we can better ourselves and, in doing so, help others.
Dr. Steven Mendelsohn of Rockville Centre has been the CEO of Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology for 25 years. Mendelsohn started a program where, on one Sunday each month, Zwanger-Pesiri provides MRI, Mammogram, and X-Ray exams for people without medical insurance. Mendelsohn is also an active participant in many national medical organizations.
"I'm very glad to have won the award," he said. "Actually, it's all my staff who volunteers their time on the Sundays...so it's not really me, it's all of my staff and everyone else that volunteers."
Other recipients of Make a Difference awards included Dr. James Benenati of Seaford, Pat Cassetta of Uniondale, Norma Debartolo of Elmont, Gaetano Ferrara of Valley Stream, Gary Croizer of Levittown, Marianne Driscoll and Mohammed Saleh of Merrick, Kelly Light of East Rockaway, Sue Marcote of Point Lookout, Hester Roberts of Hempstead, Timothy "Monster" Goettelmann of Garden City and Vincent Toma of Franklin Square.
Posthumous awards were presented to Paige and Jaime Malone and Mike Mulhall of Floral Park.
Once the ceremony had concluded, Supervisor Murray stood in awe of this year's award recipients.
"Every year I'm amazed at the depth and breadth of goodness that's around us here in the Town of Hempstead," she said. "It's amazing...every person is different, and yet, they have that common theme of being heroes amongst us. I'm inspired every year by them, they do phenomenal things."
