Ida D'Angelo makes her mark throughout the community

There were a lot of Ida D’Angelo has served Valley Stream in many capacities over the past five decades. When her children were growing up, she was active in the PTA. In recent years, her service has centered on Friends of Bridge, a local substance-abuse treatment facility, and the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library.

In recognition of her selfless service to the community — she never asks for anything in return — D’Angelo has been named the Herald’s 2011 Person of the Year.

Those who know the 80-year-old D’Angelo, a Valley Stream resident since 1960, praise her commitment to not one, but many organizations. She currently serves as president of both the Friends of Bridge Board of Directors and the Waldinger Library’s Board of Trustees. These two volunteer positions require many hours of commitment each month.

With Friends of Bridge, D’Angelo has really made her mark. She has been involved with the organization since its inception, and has been a member of the board for about 15 years.

Friends of Bridge was founded in May 1970, following the death of a young man in the community from a heroin overdose. For 40 years, it has helped those who need treatment for substance abuse. It offers day and evening programs, educational opportunities for teenagers, counseling for families and community outreach programs.

Victor D’Angelo, one of Ida’s 51-year-old twin sons, recalls his mother getting involved with Friends of Bridge when the group started. He remembers the “rap sessions” she hosted in the basement of their Keller Street home — discussion groups for at-risk teens and their parents.

During her tenure on the Board of Directors, D’Angelo has led the charge to bring substance-abuse awareness programs to schools in Valley Stream and surrounding communities. Barbara DeGrace, past president of Friends of Bridge, said that D’Angelo was instrumental in bringing speakers to Holy Name of Mary School for the first time this year.

DeGrace said that D’Angelo is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of local youth. “She’s always been about the kids,” DeGrace said. “That seems to be where her heart is.”

Linda Pizzolo, vice president of the Friends of Bridge board, noted D’Angelo’s support for the center’s school program. Teenagers with substance abuse problems can continue their education through Friends of Bridge while they fight their addictions.

D’Angelo was also instrumental in arranging a series of author visits for those teens. Taking advantage of her dual roles at Friends of Bridge and the library, she arranged for “book talks” in which teenage clients read books and then met their authors. The programs were held at the Friends of Bridge facility, and, Pizzolo said, the teens enjoyed the author visits.

Richard Schmit, executive director of the facility, said that he and D’Angelo speak at least once a week, and that she is very supportive of the center and its mission.

Recently, Friends of Bridge was awarded money to rehabilitate the outside of its Pflug Place headquarters, which is badly in need of a facelift. D’Angelo, Schmit said, made calls to the state’s Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, the main funding source for Friends of Bridge to advocate for the additional funds.

Schmit praised D’Angelo for the time and effort she devotes to her role as board president. She is dedicated to her job, which includes working to ensure that Friends of Bridge meets all state regulations.

D’Angelo worked her way up through the executive board, serving as secretary, then vice president under DeGrace before becoming president three years ago. This past year she arranged for the facility to have a table at Green Acres Mall on Veterans Day to hand out “Say No to Drugs” coloring books as well as information on Friends of Bridge and its services.

Pizzolo, who staffed the table with D’Angelo, said that a lot of people stopped by during their six-hour stay. And, Pizzolo said, D’Angelo led the effort to have information about Friends of Bridge placed in a glass display case on the mall’s second floor.

“She’s a very caring person, a very hard worker,” Pizzolo said. “She’s very well liked by everyone.”

Pizzolo also mentioned the role D’Angelo plays in organizing the annual spring awards brunch, the facility’s main fundraising event each year. “She runs everything,” Pizzolo said, noting that D’Angelo helps select the award recipients and makes sure each committee is doing its job so the event comes together without a hitch.

Earlier this year, D’Angelo took over as president of the library’s Board of Trustees. The board, appointed by the village, sets policies and fines, and recommends library services.

Library Director Mamie Eng said that D’Angelo has been to several conferences to learn more about best library practices, trends and new resources. She also regularly attends forums and budget meetings hosted by the Nassau Library System.

“She takes it very seriously,” Eng said. “I’m very happy because I have steadfast support.”

Eng said that D’Angelo is also an advocate for the library in the community, always talking to people about its services. Ask her a question about the library, and she has the answer — or, Eng said, she will find it. “She’s always a positive voice for the library,” Eng said.

During the day, D’Angelo works in the tax department at Village Hall. DeGrace said that she always provides friendly, knowledgeable help to the public.

She is also a Eucharistic minister at Blessed Sacrament Church, and used to volunteer at the thrift shop there. She belongs to the local Historical Society and is past president of the Valley Stream Republican Club.

When her children — daughter Lisa, now 56, and twins Victor and Carmine — were younger, D’Angelo was an active member of the Wheeler Avenue school PTA, and served as its president. When her children were in high school in the 1970s, she became involved with the local chapter of American Field Service, which coordinates student exchange programs. The D’Angelo family would often host students from other states or countries for a week at a time.

Carmine D’Angelo noted that even after the death of his father, Pat, in 2001, which was difficult for his mother — they were married 46 years — she carried on with her involvement in the community. “She loves it. It’s in her blood,” he said. “If she had more time, she’d probably be involved in more activities. She gives more than she’ll ever ask for.”

Mayor Ed Fare said that D’Angelo is someone who never seeks the limelight, and does what she does because she cares about the community and its residents. “There’s a person who’s a dedicated Valley Streamer,” he said. “She’s somebody who just loves Valley Stream. She’s definitely one of those service-above-self people, a phenomenal asset to the village.”