WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 20, 2020 7
Shulman leaves behind a legacy for the ages
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall is joined by her predecessor Claire Shulman at an inauguration
ceremony for Marshall’s second term in 2006.
Shulman has said luring the film
industry back to the city was one of
her greatest accomplishments. It generates
almost $9 billion a year while
creating more than 130,000 jobs.
“We got the 5 1/2 acres from the
federal government for $1,” Shulman
once said of the former Paramount
Studio that is Kaufman Astoria Studios
today. “From zero dollars to $9
billion is not bad at all.”
PAVING THE WAY
After Shulman was term-limited,
she was succeeded by Helen Marshall,
and then Katz, who remembers Shulman
as a trailblazer, a fierce leader
who dedicated her life to bettering
the lives of all Queens residents who
paved the way for women leaders
across the borough.
“I was honored to follow in her footsteps
as Queens borough president
and owe her a great debt of gratitude
for her amazing leadership and profound
dedication to public service,”
Katz said. “Claire was absolutely pivotal
to the vibrancy and prosperity
of Queens County that we continue
to enjoy today.”
Acting Borough President Sharon
Lee said her office will host a special
tribute in the coming days to honor
the life and legacy of Shulman, who
she called larger than life.
“She did not waste time and lived
every single minute fully and with
purpose. In a borough known for
trailblazers, few have led a life of
dedicated public service as robust
and as effective as Claire Shulman,”
Lee said. “You just couldn’t say no to
Claire Shulman. She transformed
the landscape of the city’s largest
borough, and so much of what we see
and enjoy today are the results of her
extraordinary vision and decisions
made over 18 years ago.”
Shulman’s legacy will be likely
carried on at Borough Hall by Councilman
Donovan Richards, whom
she endorsed in a wide-open race
for borough president. He won the
June 23 Democratic primary.
“I lost a good friend last night.
Queens lost a true gem last night,”
Richards said Monday. “Her
strength, tenacity and persistence
is why she led the borough of Queens
with honor and such distinction for
nearly two decades. When I made
the decision to run for borough
president, I reached out to Claire
for advice, mentorship and support.
Our first meeting lasted nearly five
hours at her kitchen table, where
she proceeded to give me a history
lesson on Queens.”
Shulman stood alongside Richards
under the Unisphere in October 2019
as he announced his candidacy.
“But more importantly she was
there for the entire ride. Yes, in
her 90s, she texted me just about
every morning to check in on the
campaign,” Richards said. “In true
motherly fashion, she would worry
a little too much. When I won the
democratic nomination, she was my
first call. Last week, she called to tell
me her final goodbye. She had no fear
as she prepared for her next journey.
I told her I loved her and we shall
meet again. She will forever live on
through my work and heart.”
Shulman was still working as
president of the Flushing Willets
Point Corona Local Development
Corporation when she died at her
home surrounded by her children,
former astronaut Ellen Baker, and
Larry and Linda Shulman.
Donovan Richards announces his campaign for Queens borough president, with Claire Shulman standing at his
side.
/WWW.QNS.COM
