Central Board honors Family Project founder

Steve Rose, center, founder of the Bellmore-Merrick Family Project, was honored at the March 2 Central District Board of Education meeting. Joining him were, at left, John DeTommaso, the Central District superintendent, Janet Goller, the Board of Education vice president, to Rose’s immediate left, and his family.

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central School District

Rose offered an emotional speech thanking the board for the honor and reflecting on his nearly four decades in the Central District.

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central School District

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For 40 years, the Family Project has been aiding children with developmental disabilities and their families from throughout Bellmore-Merrick. In celebration of the group’s fourth decade, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District honored its founder and coordinator, Steve Rose, at the March 2 Board of Education meeting.

The project began in 1975 when Rose, a Central District social worker, started meeting with a small group of students and volunteers on the front lawn of Grand Avenue Middle School. As time marched on, so did the program, which grew in size to reach 30 to 50 regular participants and dozens of volunteers.

“Steve Rose retired as a social worker from Bellmore-Merrick in 2012, but has tirelessly continued his life’s work dedicated to working with people with disabilities through Family Project and several other local agencies,” said Eric Arlin, director of special education and pupil personnel services.

“It is with tremendous gratitude for your 40 years of leadership, commitment and caring about the people of Bellmore-Merrick that the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education honors you for your work on the Family Project,” said Janet Goller, the Central District board vice president.