Lynbrook chooses its finest people

    Cheers and applause for three special residents filled the room at the Lynbrook village board meeting on June 20, as Robert Gordon, Carol Burak and Frankie Gaetani were named the man, woman and first-ever youth of the year.
    Deputy Mayor Alan Beach presented each honoree with a plaque, and State Assemblyman Brian Curran gave them special citations as well. Beach thanked Gordon and Burak for their devotion and service, and said that Gaetani shows that Lynbrook is a “caring and loving” community.

Woman of the Year

    Carol Burak is a dedicated 43-year resident, and can be found at just about any village function and in numerous organizations, from Lynbrook’s Centennial Committee to the Our Lady of Peace mothers’ group.
    Simply put by her daughter, Melissa, who nominated her, Burak’s name has been “everywhere” since she moving to Lynbrook in 1967. She first joined the OLP’s mothers’ and antioch groups, the parish council, the religious education program and the Eucharistic ministry. Before long she became the OLP parish secretary.
    Burak has also been involved in the village Expo planning, and volunteered for many events such as the Chamber of Commerce installation dinners. Many residents agree that she loves Lynbrook and works hard for its residents.
    “My mother always taught us if you do something good for someone, don’t talk about it,” Burak said. “When you do, you might as well not have done it. I have tried my best to honor that.”

Man of the Year  


“I would like to nominate someone who, although [he] has his whole future ahead of him, has made a difference in the lives of so many young people already,” said Burak, referring to Robert Gordon.
    The married father of three embodies all the right qualities, from kindness to diligence, Burak noted.