Division Avenue Honors Alum In Hall Of Fame Induction

From Syntax: During Division Avenue High School’s homecoming festivities on Oct. 14, six alumni from the Levittown School District were officially inducted into the inaugural Levittown Hall of Fame. Surrounded by the Levittown community, administrators, board members and loved ones, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Todd Winch announced each recipient onto the football field prior to the Blue Dragon’s game against the Plainedge Red Devils.

“These individuals that we are inducting here today have enhanced Levittown’s special place in history through their accomplishments in many different ways,” said Winch. “Individuals are selected based on contributions in a variety of areas including music, the arts, science, education, athletics, philanthropy and others.”

Inductees from Division Avenue High School included Town Councilman Dennis Dunne Sr. and New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Feinman. Dunne was the first elected representative of the 15th Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature. Among his many roles, he currently serves as president of the Levittown/Island Trees Veterans Council and the president of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council. He is also a member of the American Legion, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Disabled American Veterans, the Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Columbus, Levittown Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Feinman is currently a justice of the Supreme Court of New York as well as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University in the Department of Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies. He worked in the office of the Nassau County District Attorney and then in private law firms until 1998, when he was elected as a justice to the Nassau County District Court. After serving six years in the Nassau County courts, he was elected as a justice to the Supreme Court of New York in 2004.

Levittown Memorial High School graduates were also inducted during the special ceremony. Recipients included songwriter Ellie Greenwich, fireman Kevin McKinney, former Town Supervisor Kate Murray and coach Doug Robins.

Greenwich was an award-winning songwriter of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s who wrote “Be My Baby,” ‘I Can Hear Music,” “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “River Deep, Mountain High," among others. She was also a vocal arranger and backup singer on Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

McKinney joined the Levittown Fire Department at the age of 18 where he was an active member for six years. He was certified as an emergency medical technician and an advanced medical technician. McKinney died in the line of duty at the age of 25 serving the Levittown community.

In 1998, Kate Murray was the first woman and first Levittowner to be elected to the New York State Assembly. She served as clerk for the Town of Hempstead and in 2003 was elected as the first female supervisor of the Town of Hempstead.

Known as the Father of Levittown Baseball, Robins was a physical education teacher and the Division Avenue High School baseball coach for 30 seasons. Under his leadership, the baseball program won 654 games overall, two Class B state titles, five Long Island titles, nine Nassau County titles and 24 league championships. Sixteen of his players became professional baseball players and 19 others are now coaches at the high school or collegiate level.

Family members of Greenwich, McKinney and Robins were in attendance to accept their award in honor of their memories.

Photos courtesy of the Levittown School District:

• (Image 1) Six Levittown alumni were inducted into the Levittown Hall of Fame during Division Avenue High School’s homecoming on Oct. 14.
• (Image 2) Left to right: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tonie McDonald, Thomas Feinman’s girlfriend Dr. Marina Peredo, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Anthony Santino, Hall of Famer Thomas Feinman, Chief Deputy County Clerk John Ferretti, Principal John Coscia, board president Peggy Marenghi, vice president Marianne Adrian and trustee Jennifer Messina.
• (Image 3) Levittown Memorial High School graduate Kate Murray was inducted into the Levittown Hall of Fame on Oct. 14.
• (Image 4) Town councilman Dennis Dunne Sr. was recognized during the Levittown Hall of Fame induction.