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QC06122014

6 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 12, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Street to be co-named for teacher who died from cancer BY LIAM LA GUERRE lguerre@queenscourier.com/@liamlaguerre Former P.S. 41 science teacher Geri Cilmi’s motto to her students in the Bayside school was “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.” So when she was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007, instead of fretting about it, Cilmi took all the necessary treatment and fought the disease with a smile, her husband, Tom, said. “She was fantastic,” he said. “Doctors were amazed at her attitude and everything was just hunky-dory.” But the cancer attacked strong in 2011 and Cilmi, a mother of one and beloved public school teacher of four decades, died that May. To honor her memory and achievements, a former student, Thomas Fennell, requested a street be co-named and Community Board 11 approved it. Family and friends will gather on June 20 as Councilman Paul Vallone unveils the new Mrs. Geri Cilmi Place at 214th Lane behind the school. Cilmi began teaching in 1967 as a substitute teacher in Brooklyn elementary schools. When she shifted to P.S. 41 in 1989 she became a full-time science teacher. She retired in 2008. During her time at P.S. 41, Cilmi was loved by colleagues and students for her extraordinary effort as a teacher. Cilmi hosted science nights in the school, where parents and students were able to do a variety of experiments. She applied for numerous grants for the school, including one from NASA for a weather station. She also set up the school’s garden. She was vice president of the Elementary School Science Association (ESSA) and made various science presentations for children. “She was one of those people that were a natural teacher,” said second grade teacher Diane DiBlasi, who worked with Cilmi at P.S. 41 for two decades. “She opened up the world to so many children in a positive way.” Outside of teaching, Cilmi was a bright woman who loved to dance and a devoted mother who raised her son to be a Harvard Universityeducated doctor. She listened to The Beatles and Elvis Presley, and loved to draw. Cilmi desired to write a children’s book, but never had the chance. Tom will be present at the ceremony and believes his wife deserves the honor. “It gives me the feeling that she really accomplished something,” he said. “She touched a lot of people and an awful lot of children.” Former Flushing Jewish center to donate $125K ambulance to Israel BY LIAM LA GUERRE are giving, but we hope that it’s lguerre@queenscourier.com never used.” @liamlaguerre The ambulance will be assembled by General Motors This gift is only to be opened in Indiana and shipped to Israel in emergencies. six months following the dedication. The Garden Jewish Center, It is different than an a Flushing congregation that is American ambulance in that it’s merging with the Bay Terrace narrower to fi t smaller roads. Jewish Center, is donating a Israel is in constant need of $125,000 ambulance truck to ambulances, a representative Magen David Adom, Israel’s of American Friends of Magen only emergency medical David Adom (AFMDA) said. response organization. Every year the organization is In order to prepare for the faced with replacing nearly 15 merger, the Garden Jewish percent of its fl eet of more than Center sold its building for 120 vehicles because the trucks about $3 million and chose to experience signifi cantly more donate a percentage of the sale, stress and wear-and-tear than which includes the gift of the most vehicles when serving the ambulance truck. There will be country’s 8 million people. a ceremony for the donation at “It’s an extraordinary feeling the Bay Terrace Jewish Center to save a life in Israel, on June 29. and with this new ambulance “It’s wonderful. We are very our friends in Queens will be happy, because it is something doing just that,” said Gary that is needed in Israel,” said Perl, the AFMDA northeast Marilyn Bitterman, who is regional director. “Plus, there’s president of the Garden Jewish the ‘double mitzvah’ of knowing Center and will be co-president that the ambulance was after the merger is complete. built in the United States by “As the rabbi of Bay Terrace American workers, and will be had indicated, it’s a gift that we shipped to Israel to save lives.” THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Tom Cilmi is proud to have his late wife’s name grace the street where she taught for decades. Open House Saturday, June 14 at 1 pm High School Summer Workshops July 7 - 25 July 28 - August 15 Audio Recording, Filmmaking, Guitar, Musical Theatre, Vocal Ensembles College Summer Classes June 30 - August 21 New & Transfer Students Welcome • Affordable Tuition Summer Graduate Classes June 30 - August 21 One, Two & Four Week Classes • New & Transfer Students Welcome Dr. Andrew Gewirtz Now Practicing at North Shore Queens Eye Medicine Magazine Names (Queens, NY. June 5, 2014) – Andrew One of the Top 35 Music Business Programs in the United States 305 N. Service Road Dix Hills, NY 11746 www.ftc.edu 631.656.2110 • AUDIO RECORDING TECHNOLOGY • BROADCASTING • BUSINESS • E LEMENTARY TEACHER EDUCATION • FILM/VIDEO • JOURNALISM • MASS COMMUNICATION • MUSIC TEACHER EDUCATION • MUSIC BUSINESS • MUSIC PERFORMANCE • THEATRE ARTS Gewirtz, M.D. is now seeing patients at North Shore Queens Eye Medicine in Little Neck. Dr. Gewirtz is a Board-certified ophthalmologist, a medical doctor specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. Dr. Gewirtz, who grew up in Belle Harbor, sees patients of all ages. “I’m delighted to provide eye care to the Queens community in this convenient location,” he said. “My goal is to treat every patient who comes in with respect and compassion, and to put them at ease during their eye exam.” Although most of his patients are adults, Dr. Gewirtz also trained as a pediatrician prior to pursuing a career in ophthalmology, so his practice is also “kid-friendly,” he says. Dr. Gewirtz, who performs cataract surgery, earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, one of the first medical schools in the country to encourage students to perform community service. He went on to complete a residency in Ophthalmology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a fellowship in Glaucoma at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in New York City. Previously, Dr. Gewirtz saw patients at an ophthalmology practice in Manhattan. Prior to that, he provided eye care at a practice with offices in Hicksville, Syosset and Woodbury, Long Island. He has hospital privileges at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Gewirtz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He’s a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Long Island Ophthalmology Society, and the American Medical Association. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. North Shore Queens Eye Medicine, located on Little Neck Parkway, accepts most insurance plans. Anyone who would like to make an appointment with Dr. Gewirtz can call 718-225-5656. ADVERTORIAL


QC06122014
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