Outstanding Women Honored With Pathfinder Award

Supervisor Kate Murray and members of the Hempstead Town Board honored nine women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead, including Garden City South resident Elizabeth Gottlieb, for their outstanding contributions to the community at the town's annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony March 9.

An award was presented posthumously to music legend and Levittown native Ellie Greenwich.

Rebecca Campbell, the first female president and general manager of WABC-TV in New York, delivered the keynote address. Shattering the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry, Campbell oversees the highest rated television station in the nation's largest television market.

"Recognizing the achievements of women in all areas of society and encouraging young girls to realize their fullest potential are at the very essence of this event," noted Murray. "What the women we are recognizing this year have achieved serves as an inspiration to all those who will follow their example."

For Gottlieb, community service has always been an essential part of her life. For 30 years, she worked in various capacities at J.P. Morgan Chase before she decided to be a stay-at-home mom, devoting more time to her family and volunteer activities.

She has served as the recording secretary and president of the Washington Street School PTA, recording secretary and vice president of softball for the Garden City South Little League, team parent manager for the Franklin Square Warriors Cheerleading, second vice president of the Franklin Square Interschool PTA and recording secretary of the Sewanhaka Central Council PTA.

Further, Gottlieb coordinated the Senior Citizen Flu Shot Program and the Summer Music Program for the Franklin Square Interschool PTA.

Even after Gottlieb's husband, James, passed away in 2005, she remained active in the Keynoter Chorale and continued to volunteer her time with the PTA, the Garden City South Little League and the Franklin Square Warriors Cheerleading.

Murray said Gottlieb's contributions to the community have been vast and far-reaching, as she has donated countless hours of her time to many volunteer activities.

The ceremony was also marked by a video tribute to Greenwich, who died earlier this year. She was a composer whose songs sold in the tens of millions and were recorded by artists such as the Beach Boys, Bette Midler, Neil Diamond and Elton John.

Some of her compositions included "Do Wah Diddy," "Leader of the Pack," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Chapel of Love" and more. She will soon be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Other recipients of the 2010 Pathfinder Award include Danielle Reed (arts & entertainment); Sandra Johnson (business); Melissa Wienerkur (education); Marguerite Wilson (health services); Yanique Richards (high school senior); Margaretta Smith (humanitarian); Linda Crozier (Volunteer); and Peggy Mahoney (Town of Hempstead employee).

"Each of these women is truly extraordinary," concluded Murray. "They are all deserving of this honor and it is an extreme pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize them for their many accomplishments."