By KARENLYN BARONE
Friends, co-workers and neighbors gathered at the Lynbrook Recreation Center last Thursday evening to celebrate the longtime Lynbrook resident's retirement and share their memories of a man who made their days better - everyday.
"Ron Festa is a wonderful man," said Chris Kenny, C.S.E.A. union president for the Lynbrook Department of Public Works (DPW). "He has been a dear friend to me and my family and I wish him the best of health and happiness."
The party, organized by his co-workers at the D.P.W., also gathered employees from the Building Department, where Festa first started working for the village, and the Lynbrook Village Hall, where Village Administrator, Carol Hansen, perhaps has the longest memory of Festa.
"I have known Ron Festa since we were teenagers," she said. "The summer I was 15 we would hang out on his block and at his house. He hasn't changed. He is kind and gentle and always smiling."
Festa, was overwhelmed by the outpouring of good wishes and genuine affection shown by the many people who attended, or made it a point to stop by and wish him well.
"This is so nice," he said. "I really enjoy people and this is just so nice."
Lou Impelli said he will miss seeing Festa at work everyday.
"I will miss his manner and the way he was at work," he said. "He showed how much he cared about the village in everything he did."
It's no wonder. Festa has very strong ties to the village of Lynbrook, other than his own. One son, Peter, is a Lynbrook police officer and the other, Keith, is 1st Assistant Chief of the Lynbrook Fire Department and son-in-law, Don, is sanitation supervisor for the village. Along with daughter, Amy, they have blessed "Poppy" with five beautiful grandchildren.
Festa looked at the crowd and beamed as he stood alongside his wife of 37 years, Kathy, a middle school teacher in East Meadow. The couple stood surrounded by family, friends and neighbors, who showered them with enough good wishes to last a lifetime.
