Celebrating the Life
BY JILL DAVIS
Felice Hannah, who was until
recently a member of North
Shore Towers’ Board of Directors
and Chair of its Political
Action Committee, passed away on
December 28. A beloved member of
her family, the North Shore Towers
community and the many organizations
with which she was involved,
Felice’s life was celebrated on
January 14 at Towers on the Green
by nearly 250 relatives, friends and
colleagues, all of whom shared a
deep connection to her.
North Shore Towers First Vice
President Fred Chernow introduced
the evening by saying that “Felice
set the gold standard of a North
Shore Towers Board member…
this is a service of thanksgiving that
Felice was part of our biological or
North Shore Towers family.”
Glen Kotowski, General
Manager of NST, took the podium
and noted that he worked with
Felice for 18 years and that her
accomplishments were “too many
to list.” He continued, “She would
love this tribute to say goodbye
to all her friends at North Shore
Towers.”
The program included a prayer
and scripture reading by her
nephew, William Churchill, and
acknowledgments by her nieces
Wiloma Stewart and Yvette
Churchill. Her niece Naomi Jones
read her obituary, which related
highlights of Felice’s formidable
career: Prior to serving on NST’s
Love is all around…
Nephew William Churchill
board and leadings its PAC committee,
she had been a doctoral
candidate, a nurse, a teacher
and a school administrator. In
addition, Felice worked with the
American Federation of School
Administrators, Community Board
13, served on the board of directors
of Queensborough Community
College and was a state-certified
Medicare consultant.
Board member Debra Markell-
Kleinert introduced representatives
of several elected officials
with whom Felice worked. NYC
Coucilman Barry Grodenchik was
a close colleague of Felice’s and
said, “Soon after I was elected I
told her we don’t have any representation
from North Shore Towers
at Community Board 13 and she
joined the board…she was beloved
there, as she was everywhere. I
want to thank the family for lending
her to us all these years.” Mark
McMillan, District Manager of CB
13 added, “She was dignified…she
always held her held high. We will
always remember you and hold you
deeply in our hearts.”
Susan Agin of Queensborough
Community College’s Performing
Arts Center talked about Felice’s
involvement and support of the
organization, as well as her upbeat
Niece Yvette Churchill
personality. “The glass was always
half full,” Susan said. “She was
always in a good mood.” Susan
continued, “She was also an advocate
for many. We appreciated her
and she appreciated us.”
Amy Bernstein worked with
Felice for over 20 years when
Felice was a Medicare counselor.
“She was wonderful and inspirational
to the seniors who came in
for help and to the other volunteers.
For me, seeing her there was
great comfort. We will miss her
mightily.”
Clearly, helping others was a cornerstone
of Felice’s life: In her own
words, she said, “It’s the satisfaction
that I’ve helped somebody today.
That’s all I want from volunteering.”
And while Felice certainly knew
how to work, she also knew how
to have fun. She loved to travel and
visited each continent more than
once, not to mention her extensive
trips across the US.
Closer to home, a beautiful montage
of video clips and photos of
her life at the Towers was presented,
and it showed Felice speaking
with gravitas at PAC meetings and Fred Chernow introduces the evening
8 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ February 2020