Betsy Transom’s dedication to the Oceanside community spans decades, beginning with her efforts to plant pine trees at the Merle Avenue track.
Since then, she has continuously channeled her energy into many initiatives that have enriched local life. To show appreciation, the Kiwanettes of Oceanside, a group that is also celebrating its 70th anniversary, will present Transom with the Public Service Award at Lambrou’s Catering Hall in Island Park on March 27.
“She’s a rock star,” said Jeanine Badalamenti, who will be receiving the Kiwanettes Leadership Award. “She is really somebody who has given there all to Oceanside and the families within the community.”
Early community involvement
Transom’s community service began when she lived in Manhattan in the 1980s, volunteering at a soup kitchen, before moving to Oceanside in 1989.
“That was the first thing I did,” she said. “I’d get up at five, six in the morning, and I was in a soup kitchen down in the city.”
Once she settled in Oceanside, she dove into local causes, guided by a desire to improve public spaces — especially those that could benefit children. A long-time stay-at-home mom, Transom has always made time to help her community.
“I had the time to do it,” she said. “I felt that community service has been my job since the 1980s.”
Her first major project in Oceanside was planting pine trees at Merle Avenue. She also made her mark in the local PTA when her three sons attended
School 5, spearheading the creation of a nature trail, starting an American heritage committee, and decorating school hallways every Veterans Day with the names of students’ family members who served in the military. These early efforts cemented her reputation as a passionate community builder.
Making a mark in Kiwanis and beyond
As one of the first women to join Oceanside Kiwanis, Transom is credited with growing the Kiwanis pancake breakfast into a Super Bowl Sunday favorite.
“It used to be just kind of not a lot of stuff,” she said. “(My husband) Bob and I kind of took it over, and we grew it through the years. The important thing to me with service is to make sure you get other people involved … then you can kind of move on to another project.”
She later noticed the vacant School 1 property on Foxhurst Road in 1999 and turned it into the now-beloved Oceanside Schoolhouse Green — home to craft fairs, movie nights, and holiday celebrations like Holiday Lights on the Green.
“I looked at what used to be School 1 … and it was just an abandoned parking lot,” she recalled. “We started creating Schoolhouse Green — make a green space.”
Her love of local history led her to revive Walter Boardman’s
“The Story of Oceanside,” reprinting it with additional photos and vintage news clippings. In the digital age, she has managed websites and social media for several organizations, including the
Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Oceanside Kiwanis, Schoolhouse Green, and Oceanside Community Service.
Oceanside Community Service and church initiatives
Transom also serves on the board of Oceanside Community Service, helping to organize food deliveries for more than 50 families weekly, in addition to supporting the annual Thanksgiving events and holiday toy drive and food baskets. She helps manage orders and coordinate weekly pickups for local families.
“We serve about 50 people a week,” she explained. “I order from different agencies to get food.”
Her husband took leadership over Oceanside Community Service from longtime volunteer Al Cullinane. “Al was very wise,” Transom said. “He decided it was time to find somebody to pass it on to, and he found Bob.”
Through
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Baldwin, she’s organized Vacation Bible School, pancakes with Santa, and a Living Nativity — further extending her impact across neighboring communities.
A family affair
Transom’s three sons, Michael, Christopher and Craig, all now in the 30s, grew up watching their parents serve the community.
“They get roped in,” she joked. “They’re a full-service family. They know when they see the look in our eyes — ‘What are we doing today?’”
She said she believes that it’s crucial for parents to model volunteerism for their children. “That’s what we need other parents to do — get their kids involved from day one,” she added. “It’s important to get stuff started, get it off the ground, and then also to pass it on.”
Recognition and accolades
Her longstanding contributions have garnered numerous honors, including being named the 2010
Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and the 2009 Kiwanian of the Year. She has also earned the Heart and Soul Award from the
Oceanside PTA Council, and recognition as one of the New York State Assembly’s Women of Distinction.
Now, at age 70, Transom considers herself fortunate to have devoted so many years to local causes.
“We were lucky that I was able to be a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “I figured if I’m fortunate enough to do this, I have to give something back … You’ve got to keep it fun.”
All are invited to celebrate Transom’s achievements with the Kiwanettes of Oceanside at Lambrou’s, 4073 Austin Blvd., on March 27, from 7 to 11 p.m. Contact Annette DeBaun at amdroscoe@aol.com for info.
