FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 5, 2018 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 69
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
vschneps@gmail.com
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It was a mob scene of “boldfaced”
people at the book
party given by Sean Hannity
for Geraldo Rivera’s launch
of his new book “The Geraldo
Show.”
My memory took
flight back to
when I first met
Geraldo.
It began in
1971 when
my daughter
Lara was a resident
in the baby
building at a place
called Willowbrook
on Staten Island. She
had suffered brain
damage at birth and
they had offered hope
with therapy to help her gain
skills that was offered nowhere
else. The organization I founded,
WORC, had sent volunteers
Geraldo with his
wife, Erica
every weekend
to Willowbrook but soon
after our founding in
1971, the budget there was
slashed. The people who
lived there suffered from
severe staffing cutbacks. It
had become so bad that
some of the people living
there had died because of
lack of care.
My WORC members
became marchers and
picketers demanding the
budget cuts be restored.
Geraldo, who was
then a cub reporter for
Eyewitness News, snuck
into the wards with his
cameras and dramatically
told the story of what was
going on behind those red
brick walls.
Big party for ‘The Geraldo Show’
Geraldo incessantly and passionately
covered the conditions
the people were being
forced to live in. He came
back and came back
and came back. His
powerful coverage
encouraged the
parents association
to file a federal
class-action lawsuit
which was successful
and
u lt imately
forced
the closing of
Willowbrook.
In its place
came group
homes in all the
neighborhoods
of our city.
It was 42 years
ago that the Geraldo
Rivera Group Home
opened on a quiet hilltop
in Little Neck,
Queens, where we
named the house in Geraldo’s
honor in gratitude of his
award-winning, investigative
reporting about the scandalous
conditions at Willowbrook.
It’s remarkable to
read Geraldo’s
story about
where he came
from, where
he went
and how he
got there.
It’s inspiring
because
it’s a lesson
that anything is
possible! Geraldo
admits his life is like a
cyclone with its ups and downs.
But what a ride he’s
had!
Isn’t that true
for many of us?
It’s how you survive
the downs
that is the true
test of life.
I can report that
through the 45 years
I’ve known Geraldo,
he’s stayed true to
Life’s WORC, raising
millions of
dollars, and
impacting tens
of thousands of
lives.
His life has
made a difference
and I’m proud to say
I’m his and his beautiful
wife Erica’s friend
and wish them well
in the next chapter of
their lives.
Pick up “The Geraldo Show.”
It’s a great read.
Journey on a train: Thought of the week
Life is like a journey on
a train with its stations,
with changes of routes
and with accidents!
At birth we boarded the train
and met our parents, and we
believe they will always travel
on our side. However, at
some station our parents will
step down from the train, leaving
us on this journey alone.
As time goes by, other people
will board the train; and
they will be significant i.e. our
siblings, friends, children, and
even the love of our life. Many
will step down and leave a permanent
vacuum. Others will go
so unnoticed that we don’t realize
that they vacated their seats!
This train ride will be full of joy,
sorrow, fantasy, expectations,
hellos, goodbyes, and farewells.
Success consists of having a
good relationship with all the
passengers…requiring that we
give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone
is: We do not know at which
station we ourselves will step
down. So, we must live in the
best way – Love, forgive, and
offer the best of who we are. It
is important to do this because
when the time comes for us to
step down and leave our seat
empty, we should leave behind
beautiful memories for those
who will continue to travel on
the train of life without us.
I wish you a joyful journey
for the coming years on your
train of life. Reap success, give
lots of love and be happy.
More importantly, be thankful
for the journey!
Lastly, I thank you for being
one of the passengers on my
train!
Reprinted from Morning Juice
courtesy of Investors Bank
Submitted by Fareeza Shah-
Sayroo, assistant branch manager,
Richmond Hill office
Geraldo at his book signing Party hosted by Sean Hannity
Rachel O’Brien and
Frank Morano
Adam Weiss with PIX 11 anchor Tamsen Fadal.
John and Margo Catsimiatides with Joe Piscopo
Geraldo and Arthur
Aidala
link
