Queens lawmakers joins Whitestone community
for the unveiling of ‘Madeline Sershen Way’
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A Whitestone corner will
forever bear the name of Madeline
Sershen, the teenager
who was fatally struck while
crossing the street in 2018.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the
local community gathered at
the intersection of 16th Avenue
and Utopia Parkway to
unveil Madeline Sershen Way.
Those in attendance included
Councilman Paul Vallone,
Senator John Liu, Assemblyman
Edward Braunstein and
members from St. Francis Preparatory
School, Our Lady of
the Blessed Sacrament School
and P.S. 209.
In June 2018, senior driver
Sheila Kahn Prager struck
and killed 17-year-old Sershen
as she was crossing the street.
The teen’s untimely death
sparked community advocacy
for senior driver reforms,
including retesting elderly
drivers every two years.
Back in July of this year,
Councilman Paul Vallone announced
that the City Council
approved several street conamings
in honor of Sershen,
College Point resident Joe Femenia
and Bayside resident
CW5 Howard Haider.
“A beloved daughter, sister,
aunt and an exceptional student
and young woman, Madeline
Sershen lived a brief but
very bright life and was clearly
loved by so many in the Northeast
Queens community,” said
Vallone. “Thank you to Olivia
Sershen and Skyler Nenadich
for sharing such moving
words, and to Madeline’s aunt
Rita Barravecchio for being
a strong advocate for positive
changes to New York State’s
driving laws. I am humbled
to be a part of honoring Madeline’s
life in this lasting way.”
Sershen’s sister Olivia
Sershen and cousin Skyler
Nenadich delivered remarks
at the ceremony, which was
followed by a candlelight vigil
and the street sign unveiling.
Sershen was a native Queens
resident and a senior at St.
Francis Prep at the time of her
death.
“Today, as we are gathered
here, I remind you of that
intelligent, loving, fierce being:
the daughter, sister, aunt,
granddaughter, niece, cousin,
friend, student, classmate and
role model she forever will be
to each one of us,” said Olivia
Sershen. “Today, we unveil
this tribute to her, which won’t
bring her back, but will honor
her forever. For that, my family
and I thank you, Councilman
Vallone. But I ask you
all to remember Maddie and
keep her alive not just here
in this moment today, and not
just here on Madeline Sershen
Way, but at every crosswalk
you pass, every red light you
stop at, with every pedestrian
you see walking. I hope you
are reminded of her in all the
ordinary moments your life
has to offer and in all your
special ones.”
From l. to r.: Councilman Paul Vallone, Madeline Sershen’s aunt Rita
Barravecchio and Senator John Liu. Courtesy of Rita Barravecchio
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TIMESLEDGER,8 NOV. 29-DEC. 5, 2019 QNS.COM
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