East Northport Volunteer Honored As Senior Citizen Of The Year

HAUPPAUGE, NY — An East Northport woman with more than four decades of volunteer service was recognized as the 2026 Senior Citizen of the Year for Suffolk County’s 18th Legislative District.

Karen Steinhaus, of East Northport, was honored by Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi during a May 20 ceremony at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

Steinhaus was born and raised in Centerport alongside her four younger sisters. With a father who was deeply involved in politics, she learned early the importance of civic engagement, community responsibility and giving back, Bontempi’s office said.

After a long career at Verizon, Steinhaus used retirement as an opportunity to continue serving the community. She has dedicated more than 42 years to volunteer service, contributing to several local organizations and causes in East Northport and surrounding communities, officials said.

Her volunteer work includes serving as a Cub Scout den leader, volunteering with the Telcom Pioneers Chapter 85 Paumanok, working on the research committee for AWARE, participating in Concerned Citizens for Northport–East Northport, and serving as a neighborhood activist and park steward for the Town of Huntington.

Steinhaus has also been involved in local beautification and preservation efforts, including improvements at the Grace Preserve Log Cabin in Greenlawn, Kew Avenue Park and the Honorable Harry Brown Park in East Northport, officials said.

Her advocacy also supported $700,000 in upgrades to parks and beaches in Northport and East Northport, according to Bontempi’s office.

Steinhaus has been a vocal community advocate against the sale of Dickenson Avenue Elementary School and has pushed for funding for the Clock Tower Park clock in East Northport, officials said.

“Karen’s lifelong dedication to service and her unwavering commitment to the betterment of East Northport embody the very best of our community,” Bontempi said. “Her decades of volunteerism, advocacy, and hands-on leadership have made a lasting impact, and she is truly deserving of this recognition as our Senior Citizen of the Year.”