16 The Queens Courier • august 21, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Benjamin Fried’s contribution to Bell Boulevard memorialized in street renaming BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ @ericjankiewicz ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com Bayside’s “unofficial mayor” Benjamin Fried will be memorialized Aug. 25 during a street renaming ceremony, Photo courtesy of Councilman Daniel Dromm’s office Sponsored by Providing comprehensive end-of-life care in the home, nursing home, and in-patient setting throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Nassau County. For referrals or information call 718.472.1999 or visit www.hospiceny.com according to Councilman Paul Vallone’s office. Vallone’s spokesman said that Fried, who died at the age of 98 last year, contributed to the healthy mix of commercial and residential areas in the neighborhood. The city is designating 43rd Avenue at Bell Boulevard — at the corner where Fried kept shop for 68 years until 2001 — as Benjamin Fried Boulevard. Fried’s civic life began in 1933 when he opened Benn’s Bargain Store — later renamed to Benn’s Hardware — on Bell Boulevard and he would eventually become active in many parts of Bayside. Along with his hardware store, Fried was also a local activist, according to Vallone’s spokesman. Fried led a successful rally in the 1970s to reopen FDNY Engine Company 306 on 214th Place and 41st Avenue. “Benjamin Fried was affectionately known as the mayor of Bayside and for good reason. His life was spent advocating for Bayside, his community, family and friends,” Vallone said. “Now as we co-name 43rd Avenue as Benjamin Fried Boulevard, we will always keep his memory alive.” Fried founded the Bell Boulevard Merchants Association and started the annual Children’s Holiday Parade. These all led to his unofficial mayor title, with his hardware business serving as the unofficial city hall. “The Fried family made sure Bell Boulevard remained a huge commercial shopping destination,” a spokesman for the Bayside Business Improvement said. “They’re able to perform this balancing act of making it a great commercial destination without overpowering the residential side of the neighborhood.” THE COURIER/Photo by Eric Jankiewicz OBITUARY: LONGTIME LITIGATOR AND BAYSIDE RESIDENT WILLIAM SPANAKOS BY ERIC JANKIEWICZ @ericjankiewicz ejankiewicz@queenscourier.com Longtime litigator and Bayside resident William Spanakos died on Aug. 11 at the age of 86, according to his family, after suffering a major heart attack the day before. “He liked his work and he continued his job until the last minute,” William’s brother, George, said. “He always tried to help people through his job and in his personal life.” William was a practicing attorney for over 50 years and had an office in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He specialized in criminal defense but also served the Greek immigrant community in legal matters. He was one of seven sons and his parents immigrated from Greece. He graduated from St. John’s Law School in 1953 and soon after that he opened a law firm in 1956 with his brother John, who died last year. As a defense lawyer, William always rooted for the underdog, according to George. “He was known for his charitable works,” his brother said, and in 1990 William established a scholarship fund in honor of his parents that serves to assist financially challenged individuals of Greek descent to become doctors. William is survived by his girlfriend Sheila Silverstein; his children, Michael Spanakos, Stella Spanakos, Lillian Spanakos, Helen Spanakos- Weitman and Athena Spanakos-O’Riordan; and three brothers, George, Peter and Nick. Backpacks donated to children of homeless shelter at Pan American Hotel BY QUEENS COURIER STAF editorial@queenscourier.com School-aged children living at the Boulevard Family Center in the former Pan American Hotel are all set for their first day of school. Councilman Daniel Dromm, Queens Center and the Department of Homeless Services came together on Aug. 19 to distribute 200 backpacks, notebooks and water bottles to the children living at the homeless shelter located at 7900 Queens Blvd. “The homeless children that moved into the former Pan Am Hotel in June are some of our newest neighbors and they need our support,” said Dromm, who believes it is appropriate to donate these backpacks to his “newest constituents.” “As a former teacher of 25 years, I know firsthand how important it is for students to come to school prepared to learn. These backpacks will help the children start the school year right.” DHS and nonprofit Samaritan Village turned the Pan American Hotel into a homeless shelter for families in June. Since then the surrounding community has protested and rallied against the move, which happened without residents and elected officials being given prior notice. Community members have voiced their concerns over community safety, increased in property taxes and crime, and overcrowding of nearby schools.
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