By Scott Brinton
The Levy-Lakeside site-based team, of which Golden is a part, voted to rename the school library for Becker, who loved life and children. Susan Watson, a Levy-Lakeside aide, painted Becker's portrait, which will be hung in the school library.
Becker's family was on hand for the portrait unveiling, which took place in the Levy-Lakeside cafeteria. Among the family members in attendance were her husband, Stan; her son, David; her daughter, Debi Greenbaum; her son-in-law, Ken Greenbaum; and her grandchildren, Michael and Danielle. Nearly the entire Merrick Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Rainer Melucci, Levy-Lakeside Principal Dr. John Kohnken III and Rabbi Charles Klein were there as well.
Debi Greenbaum, who now volunteers at Levy-Lakeside, said, "We really are so overwhelmed. ...To have become a permanent part of this school is something [my mother] would have never imagined."
Nassau Legislator David Denenberg attended the ceremony to present the family with a citation officially naming last Wednesday Elissa Becker Day in the county. Denenberg said, "She really gave her life's work to our children."
Carol Siegel of the Levy-Lakeside PTA said friends of Elissa Becker raised $520 to donate to the school library to buy new books. Becker was a dedicated PTA mom who, five years ago, earned the PTA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.
