For the 42nd year in a row, the South Queens Democratic Club will hold its annual Dinner Dance on Oct. 20 at Russo’s on the Bay in Howard Beach.
The event, allows the club to honor residents who have given back to their communities, according to District Leader Frank Gulluscio.
This year, the club has chosen to honor five community leaders — people who “build and strengthen the community in every way shape and form,” according to Gulluscio.
All of this year’s honorees are residents of Howard Beach, but their leadership has extended to neighborhing communities.
John Engler
St. Barnabas Boy Scouts
Throughout his 34 years as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 237, John Engler has received many service-related awards, including The Queens Federation of Churches’ Shepherd Emblem and the Boy Scouts of America’s District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver.
Engler has served as the treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 237 for 29 years and as the vice president of the Saint Barnabas Church congregation for 15 years. The church is Engler’s second home.
One of his proudest Scouting accompishments was serving on the committee that commissioned Boy Scouting to allow Cub Scouts to camp. A pilot program was established in Queens and camping for Cub Scouts was eventually adopted nationwide.
Anthony Battaglia
Rockwood Park Basketball League
At the age of 15, Anthony Battaglia and his family moved from Park Slope, Brooklyn to Ozone Park. He brought with him his love of sports.
After serving as a New York City school bus driver for 25 years, Battaglia moved with his wife and two children to Howard Beach in 1989. Soon after arriving in the community, he was invited by former P.S. 207 Principal Guy Rossiello to organize a boys and girls basketball league.
He created the Rockwood Park Summer Basketball League, which is sponsored by the Police Athletic League. More than 500 children, ages 9 through 18, play in the league, which will begin its 20th year next summer.
Pamela Baumann
New York Families for Autistic Children
Pamela Baumann describes herself as a tireless advocate on behalf of her community and her three children.
She has served as P.T.A. president for P.S. 232 and on the board of M.S. 202’s P.T.A., and has been part of the School Leadership Team at both.
Baumann has also served as president of the District Council P.T.A. Presidents. She won the “Woman of Distinction” award for her work with children with disabilities.
She was honored by the New York City Council, Queens Borough President, New York State Senate and Assembly, and U.S. Congress for her work as the Director of Operations at New York Families for Autistic Children, which she founded with her husband, Andrew, in 1998.
Andrew Baumann
New York Families for Autistic Children
Andrew Baumann has been in the human services field for 25 years. He is the president and CEO of New York Families of Autistic Children, which he and his wife, Pamela, founded in 1998.
Baumann is an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Queens College. He serves on Gov. David Paterson’s Task Force for Autism and is a charter member of the World Autism Organization, which represents 26 countries. Baumann also sits on the Best Practices in Special Education committee of the city Department of Education.
He is also the president of the District 27 Community Education Council District and an Executive Board Member of the Howard Beach Civic Association.
In 2000 he founded the Autism Coalition of Empire State, which serves more than 50 thousand families. He has also served as chairman of the NYC Autism Task Force.
Peter Marino
Howard Beach Civic Forum
Peter Marino has been involved with the Howard Beach community since he became part of it in 1972.
Immediately after moving into the neighborhood, Marino and his wife, Irene, became involved in St. Helen R. C. Church, where he serves as the director of hospitality.
Marino is a member of the men’s prayer group and has been a member of the Holy Name Society for 26 years: he was president four times and a board member for 14 years. Marino is also a Eucharististic minister.
For the last nine years, Marino has been the chairperson for the Long Island Blood Drive.
Marino has been an active member of the Howard Beach Civic Forum since its inception. He was appointed to the board of directors for four years.
©Queens Chronicle 2008
All of this year’s honorees are residents of Howard Beach, but their leadership has extended to neighborhing communities.
John Engler
St. Barnabas Boy Scouts
Throughout his 34 years as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 237, John Engler has received many service-related awards, including The Queens Federation of Churches’ Shepherd Emblem and the Boy Scouts of America’s District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver.
Engler has served as the treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 237 for 29 years and as the vice president of the Saint Barnabas Church congregation for 15 years. The church is Engler’s second home.
One of his proudest Scouting accompishments was serving on the committee that commissioned Boy Scouting to allow Cub Scouts to camp. A pilot program was established in Queens and camping for Cub Scouts was eventually adopted nationwide.
Anthony Battaglia
Rockwood Park Basketball League
At the age of 15, Anthony Battaglia and his family moved from Park Slope, Brooklyn to Ozone Park. He brought with him his love of sports.
After serving as a New York City school bus driver for 25 years, Battaglia moved with his wife and two children to Howard Beach in 1989. Soon after arriving in the community, he was invited by former P.S. 207 Principal Guy Rossiello to organize a boys and girls basketball league.
He created the Rockwood Park Summer Basketball League, which is sponsored by the Police Athletic League. More than 500 children, ages 9 through 18, play in the league, which will begin its 20th year next summer.
Pamela Baumann
New York Families for Autistic Children
Pamela Baumann describes herself as a tireless advocate on behalf of her community and her three children.
She has served as P.T.A. president for P.S. 232 and on the board of M.S. 202’s P.T.A., and has been part of the School Leadership Team at both.
Baumann has also served as president of the District Council P.T.A. Presidents. She won the “Woman of Distinction” award for her work with children with disabilities.
She was honored by the New York City Council, Queens Borough President, New York State Senate and Assembly, and U.S. Congress for her work as the Director of Operations at New York Families for Autistic Children, which she founded with her husband, Andrew, in 1998.
Andrew Baumann
New York Families for Autistic Children
Andrew Baumann has been in the human services field for 25 years. He is the president and CEO of New York Families of Autistic Children, which he and his wife, Pamela, founded in 1998.
Baumann is an adjunct Professor of Psychology at Queens College. He serves on Gov. David Paterson’s Task Force for Autism and is a charter member of the World Autism Organization, which represents 26 countries. Baumann also sits on the Best Practices in Special Education committee of the city Department of Education.
He is also the president of the District 27 Community Education Council District and an Executive Board Member of the Howard Beach Civic Association.
In 2000 he founded the Autism Coalition of Empire State, which serves more than 50 thousand families. He has also served as chairman of the NYC Autism Task Force.
Peter Marino
Howard Beach Civic Forum
Peter Marino has been involved with the Howard Beach community since he became part of it in 1972.
Immediately after moving into the neighborhood, Marino and his wife, Irene, became involved in St. Helen R. C. Church, where he serves as the director of hospitality.
Marino is a member of the men’s prayer group and has been a member of the Holy Name Society for 26 years: he was president four times and a board member for 14 years. Marino is also a Eucharististic minister.
For the last nine years, Marino has been the chairperson for the Long Island Blood Drive.
Marino has been an active member of the Howard Beach Civic Forum since its inception. He was appointed to the board of directors for four years.
