FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 9, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 29 Helen Marshall 1929-2017 In their own words: Queens leaders refl ect on Helen Marshall’s legacy Aft er news broke about the death of Helen Marshall, tributes to the former Queens borough president quickly fl owed in from local elected offi cials and other prominent members of Queens. Here are some of the statements honoring the life of a woman who dedicated more than 40 years in service to the public: “Helen Marshall was a dedicated public servant who spent her life working to improve the quality of life for the people and communities throughout Queens. From her time as a community advocate, Community Board member, City Council Member, and then Borough President, Helen will perhaps be best remembered for her commitment to the quality of all stages of our children’s education and for ensuring our libraries were safe centers for learning.” Public Advocate Letitia James “Helen Marshall spent a lifetime improving Queens, and Queens was lucky to have Helen. For more than three decades, at many levels of government, she was an unrelenting advocate for her community. She fought for kids, for libraries, for schools — and she delivered results. Her work changed lives and changed communities. I value the eight years of collaboration we shared when serving as Borough Presidents.” City Comptroller Scott Stringer “From fi ghting to ensure children had quality education to protecting our elderly and helping our libraries thrive, Helen Marshall is leaving behind a legacy that empowered and uplift ed New York City communities for decades.” City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito “She was a true trailblazer. As an assemblywoman, a council member, and the fi rst African American to serve as borough president, Helen changed the lives of thousands of Queens residents, including my own. Helen launched my political career when she appointed me at 14-years-old to serve on the Corona Youth Council. She was a mentor, a friend, but most of all, she was family. I am honored to occupy the City Council seat that she once held.” City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. She was a good friend and colleague who fought for our county throughout her illustrious career. She will be missed.” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown “In her more than three decades of public service she broke barriers, embraced the strength of our diversity, and guided our borough through unprecedented growth. She always fought hard to ensure we got our fair share and she is leaving behind an incredible legacy of helping those in need.” Congressman Joe Crowley “Helen, Queens’ fi rst African American Borough President, was a pioneer who truly understood Queens’ greatest strength, its diversity. She founded the Queens General Assembly to give every community in our borough a seat at the table and created the Borough Hall Immigration Task Force to help new arrivals to our country. Today, we are all building on the foundation she helped lay and I send my condolences to her loved ones as well as to our larger Queens community.” Assemblyman David Weprin “She was a strong and spirited woman who dedicated her life to serving the people of Queens. May her memory be eternal and always hold a special place in our borough.” State Senator Michael Gianaris “Queens Library would not be the world-class library system it is today without Helen. She believed in libraries as places where communities are empowered and inspired, where children can nurture a love of learning and discovery and where adults can gain the skills they need to adapt to a changing workforce. Her passion for libraries drove her to secure a record amount of capital funding to upgrade, expand or improve many of the 62 libraries throughout our system and to continue to open new ones.” Queens Library President & CEO Dennis Walcott “A proud and prominent Queens College graduate (class of 1972), she earned her bachelor’s degree in education through the college’s Adult and Continuing Education program (ACE), and consistently advocated for higher education opportunity at both the city and state level in her elected positions. She supported capital projects for CUNY colleges in Queens with regularity and generosity, and was a frequent voice for college readiness and student aid. Th e college and the borough benefi ted from her love of the arts, including her assistance with the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona. We extend our deepest condolences to her entire family. She will be long remembered for her passion for education, love of teaching, and profound compassion for the disadvantaged of our society.” Queens College President Félix V. Matos Compiled by Robert Pozarycki Photo via Twitter/@DRichards13 Photos Courtesy Dominick Totino Photography Borough President Helen Marshall with members of the Fire Department Marshall at the opening of the Children’s Library Discovery Center in Jamaica
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