Merrick Chamber of Commerce honors four leaders

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce’s annual Installation Dinner is set for Jan. 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Chateau Briand in Carle Place. At this 81st dinner, Charles Fuschillo Jr., the former state senator from Merrick, will be honored as Man of the Year, and Donna Rosenblum, the Merrick Library’s current president, will be recognized as Woman of the Year. The Professional of the Year is Louise Pitlake, and the Merchant of the Year is Peter Holmstedt.

The Merrick Herald Life is a co-sponsor of the awards. For information on tickets to the dinner, go to merrickchamber.org. Here are the chamber’s profiles of the honorees.

Charles Fuschillo Jr.
Merrick Man of the Year
Fuschillo was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in 2014. Before joining AFA, he served as a member of the New York State Senate for nearly 16 years.

Fuschillo has expanded AFA’s national presence, increasing critical assistance to individuals confronting dementia, as well as caregivers and their families. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to more than 2,400 members. Its national toll-free helpline now provides assistance from licensed social workers — in English and Spanish —Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

During his tenure in the Senate, Fuschillo authored some 200 state laws and chaired the Senate Consumer Protection and Transportation committees. He also served on the Health Committee. Before that, he was chief operating officer of a nonprofit family service agency that served Long Island and New York City.

In the Senate, Fuschillo was a champion of anti-DWI laws. He sponsored Leandra’s Law, which made it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the car and required all convicted drunken drivers to use ignition interlocks to prevent them from drinking and driving again. He also sponsored laws that lowered New York state’s legal blood alcohol content level from .10 to .08; enacted tougher penalties for repeat offenders and those who drive with an elevated BAC; and expanded the use of ignition interlock devices.