FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com MARCH 3, 2016 • THE COURIER SUN 39 Celebrations from 13 to 90 Victoria’s Secrets If you ever met Claire Shulman, you would know you are in the presence of greatness. She is a loving mother, wife and friend, and a remarkable woman who I have had the privilege of calling a friend, just celebrated her 90th year. It’s hard to imagine her as old as the number might imply but it’s a new world and 90 is the new 70. Claire leads a critically important LDC that is overseeing the development of downtown Flushing, and she goes to work most every day on both that project and multiple boards where she brings her years of expertise to their doors. What an inspiration she is! During her 16 years as borough president of Queens, leaving the offi ce only because of term limits, she put more shovels in the ground and buildings across the borough than any other borough president in the history of our city. Her brilliant relationship with Republican Mayor Rudy Giuliani helped to get the funds for her beloved borough. As a role model, I know our present Borough President Melinda Katz will credit Claire as being her mentor because she worked in Borough Hall for three years while Claire headed the offi ce and they shared endless times together. As a public servant, Claire is the role model for every political leader. She gives of herself and asks nothing in return except results from her staff. No one was a tougher taskmaster, demanding excellence from everyone who worked for her. Tough love began with Claire. Her successful children are a testament to her passion for excellence. Her son Larry heads up a worldclass hospital doing cancer research and travels the world helping governments and hospitals grow their knowledge and help their people. He has two talented, successful children himself. Her daughter Ellen, a physician and astronaut, has repeatedly traveled in space and is a role model for women across the globe. She too has beautiful, talented daughters who are making contributions to Billy Pappas of Vivaldi Restaurant, where the party was held, shares the same birthday as Claire Ellen with her husband and daughters Claire had her beloved, successful psychiatrist husband Mel with her until this year when he passed away, but he was a wonderful companion in life, offering his support and pride in Claire’s many accomplishments. She has created a legacy, both personally and professionally. A BOY BECOMES A MAN Then a “beginning as a man” occurred this weekend for my beloved late husband Stu’s grandnephew Ryan Easton as we celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. In the Jewish faith, when a boy turns 13, he becomes a man! This meant for me the bittersweet gathering of the Yunis clan. I know how important family was to Stu and he would have been so happy to see his four children together with their children and all of my children joining in celebrating the life passage of the warm, bright, engaging and loving Ryan. He had practiced his prayers for months and performed them perfectly. It moved all of the family and friends at the Saturday morning services after Ryan’s polished performance of the Torah portion when, from the stage (beema), his mom, the brilliant Robin, spoke with us, and particularly Ryan, the meaning and signifi cance of the day. I felt it was important enough to share her thoughts. “It is my hope that you will fi nd comfort in being a Jew, in our traditions, in our community, in knowing you are connected in an enduring way to family, friends and strangers the world over. I hope you will feel that link and are part of something so special and timeless. It’s just the beginning and that feeling of connectedness should stay with you always, wherever you go.” Amen! POWERFUL FAREWELL It was a powerful ending to a powerful life. The Greater Allen AME Cathedral was fi lled with people paying their fi nal respects to Assemblywoman Barbara Clark. Leading the delegation of people saying goodbye to the devoted legislator was our Mayor Bill de Blasio. He was surrounded by many Assembly members whose schedule was changed to allow them The mayor comforting to be at the funeral and Barbara’s mom then go to Albany. This was also appropriate for a woman who devoted her life to public service. It was a wonderful blend of community people, civic leaders and political leaders. Borough President Melinda Katz and former Borough President Claire Shulman sat sadly through the hour and half service. Barbara’s mom got hugs and words of comfort beginning with the mayor and many kind words from Congressman Meeks and Reverend Floyd Flake but the most moving were from her beloved daughter. Barbara can rest in peace knowing she was loved and appreciated and respected. our world! All my children at the Bar Mitzvah party held at the Alexander Center on the East River overlooking the lights of Manhattan and LIC. Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK Free Whitening included the inViSiBle WAy to Some excluSionS Apply StrAighten teeth third generation dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com tweet me @vschneps Claire with her children Ellen Baker Shulman and Larry Shulman Robin with Bar Mitzvah boy Ryan
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