Senator Flanagan Honors Greenlawn Resident As His 2014 Woman Of Distinction

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) recently honored Filomena Piscitelli of Greenlawn as his 2014 Woman of Distinction.  As part of the honor, Senator Flanagan welcomed Mrs. Piscitelli to Albany to take part in a special Senate Women of Distinction ceremony.

Born in Italy, Mrs. Piscitelli and her late husband came over to America in 1963 to start a new life for their family.  In 1966, she successfully became a citizen of the United States of America while taking care of her two children and helping her husband open Mario’s Shoe Repair in Greenlawn. 

While raising her family, Mrs. Piscitelli spent nights learning English and entered the workforce in 1979 when she became an assistant cook at Harborfields High School.  For almost thirty-five years, she has helped feed, nurture and bring joy to tens of thousands of school children.  Cooking, bringing in her own food and now running the entire kitchen, she has made the school kitchen feel like home.  Now the head of the kitchen at the school, she is adored by many students, teachers and school officials.

Filomena is representative of many New York women who have worked hard all their life in order to help those around them.  A selfless and compassionate woman, she has impacted the lives of numerous students at Harborfields High School simply by providing students with a delicious meal and a warm smile. 

“Filomena is a great example of the impact one woman can have on her community and an inspiration for all New York residents.  Through hard work and perseverance, she has overcome adversity to become a staple in the community and a very important person in the lives of the students at Harborfields High School,” stated Senator Flanagan.  “It is my privilege to honor her work and to say thank you for all you have done for our community.”

The Senate’s Women of Distinction program was created in 1998 to honor New York women who exemplify personal excellence, or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New York residents.