By Dana Williams
When family, friends and community leaders describe West Hemp-stead resident Rosalie Norton, they use a long list of positive adjectives. Whether they have met her in recent months or known her for many years, they say Norton is a loving, trustworthy and benevolent woman.
What seems even more remarkable is that Norton has manifested these qualities while being a hard-charging advocate for her community.
"She has been a community-oriented person for as long as I can remember," said her daughter, Susan DeFilippis. "My mother is a fantastic woman because she is always willing to help other people."
Norton's longtime friend Anita Stein shared similar sentiments, saying that if "you ever need an advocate on your side," Norton is the person you should pick.
A West Hempstead resident for more than 40 years, Norton has found a number of ways to make a difference in her community. Many describe her as one of the hamlet's biggest advocates for education. From 1977 to 1990, she served as a West Hempstead Board of Education trustee, and was board president for two years. Norton has also been a board member of the West Hempstead Community Scholarship Fund and a Parent Teacher Student Association president.
"In the short time I've known her, Rosalie has been a great supporter of the West Hempstead School District," said Superintendent of Schools John Hogan. "She is an outspoken voice for the West Hempstead community ... she's just an amazing woman."
Norton is deeply involved in projects focused on the revitalization of West Hempstead. As president of the West Hempstead Civic Association, she has spearheaded a host of efforts in support of the construction of a four-story luxury apartment complex to replace the controversy-plagued Courtesy Hotel on Hempstead Avenue. In May, Norton helped to organize a Mother's Day rally at which a coalition of West Hempstead mothers gathered across the street from the Courtesy to protest its continued presence.
"If it weren't for Rosalie, the WHCA wouldn't have made so much progress in getting the Courtesy out of our community," said Tony Brita, a WHCA board member. "She always has the best interests of West Hempstead in mind, because she's always working to make West Hempstead a better place to live."
Norton is also president of the West Hempstead Community Support Association, an arm of the WHCA whose aim is to beautify West Hempstead, among other initiatives. She has already helped begin efforts to make aesthetic improvements such as planting trees along Hempstead Avenue.
Norton has been a trustee of the West Hempstead Public Library, and a board member of Friends of the Library. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, and is a lifetime member of the West Hempstead Historical Society.
"My mother is devoted to improving her community," said Norton's son Kevin. "She possesses qualities that many of us try to emulate." Including, it seems, endless energy. To call Norton's schedule a busy one is to dramatically understate the demands on her time. Family members say that not even a teenager could keep up with her.
On Dec. 2, Norton and other members of the WHCA helped organize the annual Holiday at Hall's Celebration. Even with the challenge of snowy weather, Norton found a way to host a tree- and menorah-lighting ceremony in the park, in the interest of helping residents celebrate the holidays as a community.
"Every community should be as fortunate as we are to have a Rosalie Norton," said longtime resident Marylyn Varriale, speaking for her husband, Richard, as well -- the couple have known Norton for 35 years.
"Rosalie is the unelected mayor of West Hempstead, and she is a community activist par excellence."
By all accounts, Norton is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, friend and community activist, and for her countless accomplishments in West Hempstead, the Herald is honored to name her its 2007 Person of the Year. Her tireless volunteerism, many believe, will continue to help the hamlet become a more business-friendly, safe and diverse community.
"I truly respect Rosalie for her commitment to push West Hempstead forward," said resident Karen Crowley. "She has been a true selfless person in this community ... and I can't imagine a better representative for West Hempstead."
Comments about this story? DWilliams@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
