Monday, February 10, 2025
For decades, Geri Barish and the DeNapoli family have dedicated themselves to serving the community. In recognition of their outstanding contributions, the Inwood Civic Association will honor them as this year’s Citizens of the Year.
The Association has hosted the Citizen of the Year dinner since 1963, recognizing individuals and organizations for their service. Past honorees have included the Inwood Fire Department and Sanitary District 1, for their work during Hurricane Sandy.
“We always try to honor someone who has given back to the community and someone who is for the community,” Rosemarie Reo, president of the civic association, said. “I think it shows that the community does appreciate what people do to help out, and usually we have quite a nice crowd that shows up to the dinner to show the people that they’re appreciated.”
One of this year’s honorees, Geri Barish, is the executive director of Hewlett House, a free resource center that she helped create in 2000. Hewlett House has helped over 40,000 residents suffering from various types of cancer. It offers a variety of free services, including arts and crafts, yoga, meditation, support groups, advice from medical attorneys, help with appointments, and necessities for patients such as blankets, hats, wigs and undergarments.
Barish, who lost both her mother and son to cancer and is a five-time cancer survivor herself, said that her promise to her son was that she would find out why he contracted the disease, and that promise has motivated her in her work at Hewlett House.
“It’s about our children,” Barish said. “Today it’s very expensive to go to the hospital and get information, and if we can help cut some questions, and we can get an appointment and get them screened in 24 or 48 hours, we could give people information and answers that people are afraid to ask (for).”
Many residents, including cancer patients, local middle and high school students and other community members, have volunteered at Hewlett House over the years, making gifts and necessities, such as blankets, hats and scarves, for people battling cancer.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized with someone like the DeNapoli family,” Barish said. “I was shocked. I really was. I always say, ‘What, me? What did I do?’ It’s a huge honor, and I really have no words.”
The DeNapoli family, who manage the Bel-Mar Oil Company, are being honored for their constant commitment to giving back not only to Inwood, but Nassau County and Queens as well.
The late Dominick DeNapoli founded the company after returning from the Korean War. The family-run company has been keeping area homes and businesses warm since 1953, and has been involved with service organizations such as the Peninsula Kiwanis.
Dominick’s son Frank now runs the company, along with his mother, Valencia, and his brother, Dominick Jr.
“It’s definitely a great honor, and we’re still even shocked that we’re being nominated,” Frank said. “Even my mom was shocked, and we were all saying the same thing, like, ‘Why us? What did we do?’ You know, you want to call it just normal people that work around the community and try and help others. It’s too bad Dad isn’t alive to see this, but it’s great mom is here, so it’ll be good.”
Barish and the DeNapolis will be honored at the Citizen of the Year dinner at the Inwood Country Club on March 23. The annual event features donations from restaurants and other civic organizations, gift baskets and raffles. The money raised there goes to the civic association’s scholarship fund.
“We give out six scholarships to high school seniors every year,” Michael Gliner, a former president of the association and its current board chair, said. “So to get to honor them and everything that they’ve done, and at the same time help these kids go off to college, it’s a win-win.”
For information on tickets, visit the Inwood Civic Association’s face book page, www.facebook.com/InwoodCivics.
