Merrick Library Board Election Profile: Sue Dillon

Editor's Note: This article was written by Merrick Library Candidate Sue Dillon.

Sue Dillon was born and raised in Brooklyn, a graduate of James Madison High School, Cornell University (BS), and LIU at CW Post (MS).  

She and her husband, Marty, married 53 years, are 46 year residents of Merrick, and active community participants. She has served as President of Chatterton and Merrick Avenue PTAs, as well as President of the Merrick-North Merrick PTA Council where she worked at uniting the PTAs of the two school districts.   

She served voluntarily on many School District committees. When her children were old enough she returned to work, setting up and teaching the Gifted Program in Freeport, Copiague, and Valley Stream, and was twice cited in Who’s Who in American Teachers. She also designed and taught an evening program in home skills for BMCHS special education students who went to school outside the district.  

Upon retirement from teaching, she worked part-time for a number of years as Legislative Aide to Legislator Dave Denenberg. Always keeping busy, she now works p/t for two people who specialize in long-term care insurance planning, and as the Merrick School District teacher for home-bound children (as needed).

She has been elected to serve on the Merrick Library Board of Trustees for three terms, served as President for five years, and is currently the Secretary of the Board. While on the Board, she has worked avidly on the planning, designing and construction of the new Library, and on the reconstruction and furnishing of the annex, known as the Wing.  She has visited libraries and conferences to learn more about architecture, interior design and bettering services. She has repeatedly gone to Albany to lobby for libraries in New York State.

The Merrick Kiwanis named her an Honorary Member, and she chairs the Toiletry Collection which donates to various groups, i.e. troops, Ronald McDonald House, Regina Residence, the INN, Coalition Against Domestic Violence, etc.  She has chaired the Shop for a Cause committee, and can be found gift wrapping at Roosevelt Field, and collecting school supplies and food for those in need outside Stop and Shop and CVS.

Other volunteer activities include being a Volunteer at Lions’ Eye Bank for Long Island, at North Shore Health System, working directly for the Executive Director.  She received the Lion’s Eye Bank for Long Island Award for 2009. The Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club presented her with the  Civic Leadership Award in 2011. Serving on the Cornell Alumni Admissions Network she has interviewed Merrick-Bellmore CHSD seniors. She is an active member of LITRIO (Long Island Transplant Recipients International Organization).

Susan Dillon was named Merrick Woman of the Year in 2006 by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce.