FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 13, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
Victoria’s
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPSYUNIS
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Leaders like no others
In the last few weeks, great
leaders were recognized for
their power.
A small, intimate group of
friends and family gathered at
a pre-celebration for the unveiling
of “One Claire Shulman
Way,” which became Queens
Borough Hall’s vanity address.
Th e name pays tribute to the
powerful, respected and adored
Claire Shulman, who served
there as Queens borough president
for 16 years.
Borough President Donovan
Richards invited us to a breakfast
before the unveiling. He had
earned Claire’s respect, as she
became his unoffi cial campaign
manager and cheerleader in his
race for the position she had
held for almost two decades.
Sitting in the stately, woodlined
conference room on
Borough Hall’s second fl oor, it
off ered an opportunity for us
who loved and admired Claire to
reminisce about her before the
offi cial unveiling began.
As her devoted friend, I knew
she wanted someone in her old
offi ce that would get things done
the “Claire way” — putting
shovels in the ground and making
projects happen that would
benefi t Queens residents.
Alex Rosa, her trusted chief of
staff and Claire’s closest friend
— Alex would oft en refer to her
as “mom” — fi rst introduced her
to Richards. Impressed with the
same passion for the borough
that she had, Claire endorsed
him and would have had an earto
ear smile on her face knowing
that he won the race.
I still feel her presence, like
when I wear the scarf that
Claire’s daughter Ellen gave
me, or whenever I drive around
Queens and see the extraordinary
number of projects that
she created. When she left offi ce,
because of term limits, her offi ce
walls were covered with shovels
given to her at each projects’
groundbreaking. It was truly a
remarkable sight!
When I spoke with Claire
about “her Ellen,” she glowed
with pride. Aft er all, Ellen went
to medical school — just as her
dad did — and joined NASA,
where she eventually became the
doctor on three missions going
into space!
At the breakfast gathering,
Ellen and her world-renowned
Oncologist brother Larry shared
that their mom was a tough
woman who took no nonsense
from them and demanded excellence.
And they are both on top of
their professions! No wonder they
put such a glint of pride on her
face when she talked about them!
Th e highly respected Judge
Nicholas Garaufi s, her attorney
while she was borough
president, reminded
us that when the city
was sending garbage
on barges to Queens,
Claire had him get a
stop order from the
courts. And he succeeded!
She proudly
supported him
when he took his oath
to become a federal
judge.
Vinny Riso, a lifelong
friend of Claire’s,
simply said, “I loved
and cherished her,” as
we all reminisced.
For me, she was
my best friend in the
world. We traveled
together to China,
Israel, Europe and
Alaska. How I miss our
daily calls and hearing from my
“cheerleader” during the darkest
times of my life, as well as the
most joyous, such as when she
made my bridal shower before
I married Stu, my late husband.
But I believe she is with me
today and I keep her cellphone
number on automatic dial so I
can hear her voice.
Th ose who loved her believed
she would live forever — she
worked until her death at 94.
I miss you, Claire, but your
name is now forever displayed
At the breakfast gathering with Claire’s family and some of her closest friends.
on the building where you made
history. You live on!
A PASSIONATE PLEA TO
TAKE THE VACCINE
Earlier in the week, I had the
pleasure of hosting our decadesold
Power List of Long Island
event, which honored Michael
Dowling, the CEO of Northwell
Health, who was the keynote
speaker.
RSVP to the virtual event,
which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on
May 20, at schnepsmedia.com/
qns/long-island-press-powerlist.
I was impressed to hear his
passionate plea to the other honorees
— the “titans of business”
in the room. He made his point
with facts and powerful words,
telling everyone that it’s critical
to get the vaccine.
He dramatically hit home
when he compared the media
outcry of the one person dying
out of millions who took the
Johnson & Johnson vaccine,
but merely a small mention in
the media when 33 people were
killed with guns!
He believes gun control is a
health issue. Th e fallout of those
who survive are traumatized forever!
Our challenge — one that each
and every one of us face — is
to convince our neighbors, family
and friends that there is more danger
in not getting the vaccine and
that there is little evidence of danger
when one does get the vaccine.
Hopefully his powerful words
will aff ect change!
Michael Dowling explains why it’s critical for
everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
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