‘Women of Distinction’ honored

Three East Meadow women feted for their community involvement

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Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, who lives in and represents East Meadow, recently honored 10 “Women of Distinction” — three of whom live in East Meadow.

The event, which took place in the Farmingdale Public Library on Aug. 9, honors women, nominated by their peers, for their achievements in their local community.

The three East Meadow honorees were Tracy Allred-Pulice, Debra Kirsh and Inessa Tymochko-Dekajlo.

Allred-Pulice, who is currently the president of the East Meadow PTA Council, has also served as PTA co-president at McVey Elementary School, PTA president at Woodland Middle School, and as a member of SEPTA.

She has chaired many committees in her years in the PTA, and was president of Nassau BOCES ECC PTA.

She and her husband, Sal, have four children, Ashley, Thomas, Benjamin and Madilynn. “PTA defines advocacy as supporting and speaking up for children,” McKevitt said. “Tracy Allred-Pulice has clearly shown, through her involvement with the PTA in East Meadow over many years, that she deserves the title of advocate for children.”

Kirsh has also been heavily involved in the PTA, is a former trustee on the East Meadow School District Board of Education, and is the immediate past president of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club.

She joined the East Meadow PTA in 1992, and became Meadowbrook’s president in 2000. She was the 1st vice president of the East Meadow PTA Council, the membership chair for Nassau Region PTA and was a BOE trustee from 2004 to 2007.

Kirsh, who has lived in East Meadow since 1983, is married to Howie, and has two children, Corey and Kelly. “Debra Kirsh, through her volunteerism, has made a difference in the lives of the residents of the East Meadow community,” McKevitt said.

Tymochko-Dekajlo, a native of Ukraine, has achieved international prominence for her immense musical talent in the genres of classical music and, especially, Ukrainian traditional folk music, played on the violin.

  She began her musical studies at age 6, studying with the renowned Halyna Ivanina Kubij. She continued her studies at the Lviv Musical Conservatory, achieving High Honors. She then began studying privately with internationally known violinist Professor Fisher in Hanover, Germany.

  Her comprehensive training as a classical violinist has allowed her to be certified by the Ukrainian musical system as a concert violinist and instructor. Her lively and enthusiastic playing brought attention to her talent and creativity, fueling a demand to see her perform live. In 2005, Tymochko-Dekajlo performed at the Eurovision Awards (equivalent to the Grammy Awards), held in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital. It was there she performed her critically acclaimed version of Vivaldi’s “Storm.” She has gone on to tour and perform in numerous countries throughout Europe.

  In the United States, she signed with EMI Records and has released CDs in which she not only performs, but also provides musical arrangement. She is a member of the faculty of the Suzuki Music School, part of the Huntington Center for the Performing Arts, where she teaches classical and contemporary music.

  Tymochko-Dekajlo is married to Oleh and they have a son, Ihor.

Other recipients included Seaford’s Mary Jane Burgess, North Massapequa’s Joy Cacioli and Melanie Fink, Massapequa’s Mary Anne Russo, and Levittown’s Jean Fontana, Lindsay Gruntorad and Lisa-Jean Santer. “These women are true role models for any of our fellow citizens,” McKevitt said. “On behalf of the community, say a very heartfelt ‘thank you’ for all these women do to improve our community.”