Six who give 'Service Above Self’ are awarded

The Lynbrook/East Rockaway Rotary Club presented its 12th annual John Rossetti Service Above Self awards in Elmont last Sunday.

This year’s recipients are U. S. Naval Commander Master Chief Evelyn Banks, who received her award for distinguished service; Dawn McGrath, a volunteer with Peninsula Counseling Center, for her service to seniors; Valley Stream Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward N. Fale, for his work with his school district; Mike Schindler, of Lynbrook, for community service; and Al Barbarino, for lifetime achievement.

“We presented the awards to six outstanding citizens who have exemplified the qualities of service above self in their daily lives,” said Rev. John Fahey, pastor of the St. James Methodist Church in Lynbrook and president of the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Rotary. Fahey also gave special thanks to the Rotary’s board and its officers for making the award ceremony such a success.

The recipients

Lynbrook resident Dawn McGrath has been a volunteer with "Project Cares" for 13 years. She was nominated for this award by the Executive Director of Peninsula Counseling, Herb Ruben.

Michael Schindler has served as the Communications Commissioner in Lynbrook since 1969. He takes great pride in the Lynbrook Television Cable Channel that he created. In 1973 he received an Emmy for his work with WABC. He is also in charge of all communications equipment used by the police department, fire department, and sanitation department.

Al Barbarino is committed to the cause of the poor and underprivileged throughout the world. He has been singing in parishes and raising money for the Saint Padre Pio Shelter in the South Bronx. He has recorded several CDs to bring his message to others.

Command Master Chief Evelyn Banks received this award for Distinguished Service. A native of Memphis, TN, she is the CMC for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Among her other many accomplishments, she was a Surface Warfare Specialist in the North Arabian Gulf, and won the coveted Ramage Award for the best CVN/CVW team on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Banks is a highly decorated officer, earning gold and bronze stars. She appeared at Lynbrook's 2008 Expo.

Dr. Edward M. Fale began his career as a high school math teacher in 1969. He is now the Superintendent of Schools in the Valley Stream Twenty-Four School District for the past 11 years. He has co-authored educational articles on school boards and the superintendency.

Tuskeegee Airman Julius Freeman, of Springfield Gardens, Queens, was presented with a special award for his community spirit.

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