By Howard Goldstein
Bernie Stein is well known throughout Merrick and Bellmore as a former social-studies teacher at Mepham, Kennedy and Calhoun high schools and community philanthropist.
Stein's face glowed talking about the difference Kiwanis makes in the lives of community members, characteristically modest and wholly unconsumed with his own role. On the contrary, he was grateful to Kiwanis for the opportunity to play such a large role.
Every year, Kiwanis holds food drives, Toys for Tots, Clothing for Kids, adopts families at the holidays, gives scholarships and sends local kids to Camp Kiwanis.
But the tragedy of Sept. 11 forced new challenges on the civic group, which Merrick Kiwanis readily took up.
"Sept. 11 propelled me, and the community response to 9-11 was the best experiences I've ever had," said Stein.
The Bellmore-Merrick Community of Caring evolved out of Kiwanis, the Central High School District and Gail Volk of the Community Wellness Council.
"I got to see this evolving into this wonderful thing that was just incredible. I was intimately involved in planning, and decision making, meeting clergy...I really saw the blossoming of the community, especially with involvement in distributing gifts. I went out giving gifts to families of Sept. 11 victims with a nun and A rabbi, and alone.
"It was sad, terribly sad, to have to do it, and yet it was a bright light in my experience. I got to really sit and talk with the families," Stein recalled earnestly "Reaching out is just incredible. And I got to do these things because I was president of Merrick Kiwanis. I am just so grateful."
Stein has an tangible aura of energy when he discusses helping people. With mounting excitement, Stein described reading to school children, for a him another perquisite of the Kiwanis presidency, organizing Easter egg-painting for the Nassau University Medical Center Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, and delivering 1,300 books to a principal at a Roosevelt School who as thrilled to receive the windfall for the students
"Give me a chance to give, to make a difference, for me that's what it's all about."
Stein is possibly best known by the young people of Bellmore-Merrick as a teacher.
"I miss the stimulation, talking about things I love and the kids," said Stein, "but I don't miss the paper work and regimentation."
Bernie Stein is known in the classroom for his political views, but his particular bent takes a back seat when real human need is on the line, a feature for which Stein particularly applauds Merrick Kiwanis.
"One thing that makes the Kiwanis Club in Merrick wonderful is they set aside all political differences for the good of the community. We are apolitical. I remember watching Sen. Chuck Fuschillo and Legis. Dave Denenberg standing next to each other serving pancakes at the Pancake Breakfast. In fact, I once remember during a picture, Chuck pulled me in, and said, 'I want everyone to take note...I finally have Bernie Stein to the right of me!' " Fuschillo is a Republican, Denenberg a Democrat.
On his retirement from the Kiwanis presidency, Stein noted it was time consuming and a huge undertaking, but "the good feelings far outweighed the hardships."
"We currently have 96 paid members. People join Kiwanis because they want to give. There is no personal tangible benefit derived; in fact, members often reach into their own pockets to fund events. Every penny of our fundraisers go to the cause, all event costs are laid down by Kiwanis. They are a wonderful group of people, and Merrick and Bellmore are wonderful communities. We couldn't do what we do without the community."
But many in the community feel they couldn't have done what they did without Bernie Stein.
Peter Zavack, incoming president of Merrick Kiwanis, said that Stein "took Kiwanis to a new level in community service."
"We hope to sustain it. He is such a unique individual, a man who leads by example. So many people are so self-absorbed, and he's the exact opposite. I love the man," he said.
Gail Volk, president of the Wellness Center, remembered Stein's "active role in this mammoth undertaking [Community of Caring]. This project would not have happened without Bernie Stein. Anything that need to be taken care of, he did.
"He's somebody you can be totally honest with, and he has no ego; he just wants to do what's right. He's the ideal."
