By Nicole Falco
Bridge Builder of the Year awards were presented to Sister Margie Kelly, Holy Name of Mary's director of Parish Outreach, and the late Lucia Pontrelli, of Ancona's Pizzeria. Accepting on behalf of Pontrelli was her granddaughter, Lucy Pontrelli. The awards brunch was held April 17 at Bedell's at West Wind in Freeport.
Members of Pontrelli's family and Holy Name of Mary Parish, including the Rev. Thomas Harold, pastor, attended the annual brunch.
Holy Name's Deacon Tony Cuseo presented the award to Sister Margie. In giving her the award, Cuseo noted Sister Margie's more than 20 years of service as director of Parish Outreach, and the countless lives she has touched through that program. Through parish outreach, Sister Margie works closely with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
"Many people have said of Pope John Paul II, 'that Pope really knew how to Pope,'" Cuseo said before giving Sister Margie the award. "May I paraphrase that and say of Sister Margie, that nun certainly knows how to nun."
Sister Margie is a former member of the Friends of Bridge Board of Directors and has earned the title board member emeritus. She is also on the Pastoral Care Committee at Franklin Hospital Medical Centre, the Board of Directors of Monica Village Apartments, Board of Directors of Bethany a Shelter for homeless women and children, the Valley Stream Religious Council, and on the Board of Trustees of Sacred Heart Academy.
The late Lucia Pontrelli was a longtime supporter of Friends of Bridge. In fact, it was Pontrelli who gave the program its first home in Valley Stream. Pontrelli owned the building on Rockaway Avenue where the program first opened its doors 35 years ago. She welcomed Friends of Bridge to the community at a time when many in Valley Stream expressed skepticism about doing so. Friends of Bridge remained on Rockaway Avenue for about 10 years before moving to its current home on Pflug Place.
Barbara DeGrace, vice president of the Friends of Bridge Board of Directors, presented the award to Pontrelli's granddaughter.
Bruce Beaver, a board member, was the afternoon's emcee. Also in attendance were numerous local elected officials.
