Pillars of East Rockaway community honored with dedication event

Posted

Dozens of residents and elected officials came out to celebrate the lives and achievements of two fixtures in the East Rockaway community as a baseball field and the recreation center were named in their honor on April 9.
The recreation center was christened in the name of the late Frank Pignataro, who volunteered countless hours to the community during his life. Pignataro created what is now the East Rockaway Baseball League and served as director of the Charles H. Formont Senior Center from 2015 until his sudden death on Nov. 25, 2016, at age 69. Last March, he became the 12th person — and the first since 2012 — to be inducted into the East Rockaway Community Hall of Fame at a special ceremony at East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School.
Jerry Chapel served as the village’s recreation director from 1967 to 1992. He ran year-round programs for adults and children, and organized camping trips and outings to sporting events. He founded a football league in East Rockaway, served as a basketball referee and baseball umpire and also joined the East Rockaway Fire Department.
“Frank Pignataro and Jerry Chapel are larger than life figures in East Rockaway,” Mayor Bruno Romano said. “When I was growing up here, Frank and Jerry remained busy working for others. Their leadership and guidance made a mark on children’s lives spanning decades, thanks to their involvement and leadership with baseball, football, basketball and other sports, which engage East Rockaway’s youth. They both remained involved later in life, working to enrich the lives of our seniors.”
Members of the Pignataro and Chapel families were in attendance for the dedication. Plaques in their honor were also displayed and handed to the families. The dedication Pignataro and Chapel devoted to the village will be honored every time someone looks up at the signs christening the baseball field and the recreation center, Romano said.
“These gentlemen dedicated much of their professional lives to both our children and bettering our community,” Romano said. “We are glad that Jerry was able to join us to see his legacy remembered in perpetuity. And Frank’s memory will forever be enshrined at the recreation center building.”