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Mostly Cloudy Inwood Civic Association to honor Frank Parise
Updated: March 13 at 12:45 p.m.
For the Inwood Civic Association’s 2020 ‘Citizen of the Year’ honoree, Frank Parise, the reason for his involvement with multiple civic organizations is because he gets “wrapped up” in the work.
Parise, 73, will be honored at the civic association’s dinner at the Inwood Country Club on April 25. Born on Aug. 6, 1947, Parise grew up on Randall Avenue in Inwood and graduated from Lawrence High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia and raised his three children, Frank III, Jennifer and Christine in Inwood. “The thought of moving anywhere else never occurred to me,” Parise said. “I love living here.”
Throughout his life, Parise has served in several civic positions, including president of the Order of Sons of Italy Leonardo da Vinci Lodge #2385 and president of the civic association from 1991 to 1992. He was also a Lawrence School District Board of Education trustee from 2000 to 2006. This included serving as board president from 2004 to 2006.
He said the civic mindedness runs in his family. “I think I got it from my uncle Andy,” he said, referring to longtime Cedarhurst mayor Andrew Parise. “I tend to just get wrapped up in being involved and wanting to lend a helping hand.”
Along with working in retail management for 43 years, Parise served in the Inwood Fire Department for roughly 30 years, joining at the age of 43. “Joining the fire department is one of the highlights of my life,” he said. “The moment I was sworn in, it felt like 150 other individuals joined my extended family. There is such a camaraderie with the department.” Parise served as department chief from 2016 to 2017.
Civic association President Dave Hance said the honor for Parise was overdue. “When we began discussing potential nominees for this year “Whatever there is to do from a civic point of view, Frank has done it. He is more than deserving of this honor.”
Hance noted the association comes to its decision by meeting as a board and recommending candidates. “The decision for Frank was unanimous,” he said. “Every community should have a civic-minded person like Frank in it.”
Kathy Mennella is Parise’s first cousin and also a civic association member. She noted how she had to convince her cousin to accept the honor. “Frank is such a humble man and I had to explain to him that everybody was on board with him receiving the honor,” Mennella said. “Frank truly loves Inwood and it shows with how he has served this community over the years.”
What Parise is looking forward to the most is seeing familiar faces at the dinner. “I can’t wait to spend time with the family and friends that I grew up with in Inwood,” he said. “This recognition is truly an honor for me.”
The country club is at 50 Peppe Road. The dinner is from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $125 per person. Checks can be mailed to: Inwood Civic Association, 421 Doughty Blvd., Suite 101, Inwood, N.Y. 11096.
Update reflects the dinner being rescheduled from March 21 to April 25.
