Thursday, October 1, 2026
Longtime Five Towns resident Jody R. LaGreca, a prolific multi-genre author with 20 published books, has released her latest work, “Heritage in Motion: Champion Swimmer, a Dual Family Chronicle”, a deeply personal narrative that traces the intertwined legacies of her family across generations.
LaGreca’s newest book centers on her grandfather, Samuel Finkelman, a Polish Jewish immigrant whose extraordinary athletic feats in the early 1900s earned public attention, including coverage in The New York Times. A semi-professional boxer and champion swimmer, Finkelman became known for his endurance and daring long-distance swims, often towing boats and passengers using a powerful technique he developed known as the “seal stroke.”
“Heritage in Motion is about movement in every sense — physical, emotional, and generational,” LaGreca said. “It preserves the stories that shaped my family and honors the legacy of those who came before us.”
The book expands beyond Finkelman’s accomplishments to include the Barkan side of LaGreca’s family, both branches rooted in Sea Gate, Brooklyn — one of New York City’s earliest gated communities. Through photographs, personal accounts and historical context, LaGreca explores themes of resilience, identity and continuity within Jewish life.
What began as a focused tribute to her grandfather evolved into a broader chronicle as LaGreca uncovered additional family artifacts and stories.
“Together, their histories form a fuller portrait of our roots,” she said. “I created this book so the remarkable legacies of both the Finkelman and Barkan families may endure for generations to come.”
LaGreca, who has lived in Cedarhurst since 1989, grew up in nearby Woodmere and attended Ogden Elementary School, Hewlett Elementary School, Woodmere Middle School and Hewlett High School. Her path to becoming an author began early. She wrote her first poem at age seven and spent childhood days composing verses by the beach.
“I would sit on the rocks and just write,” she recalled. “It came naturally to me.”
Her passion for writing deepened in high school, where a creative writing course inspired her to pursue storytelling more seriously. Though she did not initially follow a traditional academic path, attending Queensborough Community College with a major in writing, she continued writing and eventually began developing book-length manuscripts as early as 1977.
Over time, LaGreca built a diverse body of work spanning novels, poetry and family histories, often drawing on themes of suburban life and Jewish culture. She describes her writing career as “a labor of love,” sustained by dedication rather than commercial trends.
“It’s different now,” she said, noting the challenges of reaching readers in a digital age. “But I’m still out there every day, promoting my books and sharing these stories.”
Early readers have responded positively to “Heritage in Motion”. In an Amazon review, Brooke Serebryansky called the book “an amazing read,” praising its vivid storytelling and historical detail.
“I loved learning about Samuel Finkelman and how his life unfolded,” she wrote. “The vintage photos made me feel like I was in a museum.”
Another reviewer, writing under the name Kafka, described the book as “a most worthy” contribution to historical memory, adding that LaGreca “has done a great service” in documenting Finkelman’s life. The reviewer highlighted the work as a “true kiddush Hashem,” emphasizing its portrayal of perseverance, strength and character.
With “Heritage in Motion”, LaGreca continues her mission of preserving personal and cultural history, ensuring that the stories of past generations remain accessible to future ones — not as distant memories, but as living narratives still in motion.
