By Nick Buglione
Last Tuesday the limelight finally caught up with her. Along with nine other Hempstead Town women at a March 25 ceremony, Rome received the town's Pathfinder Award, which rewards the talent and commitment women have consistently shown in various fields.
"It seems that every time you turn around, Dolores is involved in something in the community," said Councilman Gary Hudes (R-Levittown), who nominated Rome for the award. "There isn't a thing that's positive for the community that she's not involved in.
"She, as a resident of East Meadow, has done so many varied things for so many varied people above and beyond her job."
Rome, who won the Pathfinder Award for community affairs, admits she's very low-key, hardly even telling anybody about the honor. "I enjoy [being involved]; I get satisfaction out of it," said Rome, who moved to East Meadow in 1985 with her husband James and raised two sons. She now has two grandchildren. "I don't like the notoriety, I don't like this part."
Bragging is simply not her style, and it's just as well. In the last decade, Rome has silently morphed from a self-described "homebody mother" to one of East Meadow's most active residents.
About eight years ago, she joined the staff of RMB Drafting Services, where she became the executive administrative assistant to president Richard Bivone. As a member of the East Meadow Kiwanis, past-president of the chamber of commerce and vice president of the Council of East Meadow Community Organizations, Bivone is one of the neighborhood's most vocal and visible leaders.
Though his penchant for the public eye obviously never rubbed off on Rome, his fondness of community service certainly did.
"Since I came to work here, I've been involved," Rome said. "He [Bivone] got me involved in CEMCO and the chamber, and I just branched off."
As an active chamber member, Rome is instrumental in organizing the group's annual Holiday Menorah and Tree Lighting, and was involved in the planning of its first town hall meeting at McVey Elementary.
In the few years Rome's been a part of the East Meadow chamber's installation and journal committee, she's helped raise more than $13,000 in scholarships for local students.
"She is a very loving, giving person," said Liz Fries, Rome's close friend and aide to Legislator Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow). "She donates a lot of her time and energy to all these community activities. A lot of it is done out of the goodness of her heart."
As a member of Kiwanis, Rome also regularly participates in the annual food basket drives that deliver food to over 80 families in need on each of the major holidays.
Still, for Rome, nothing is more special than putting together the East Meadow Memorial Day Parade every year.
"They're our older generation and they fought for this country," said Rome, who works closely on the planning with Fries, other civic groups and the United Veterans Council. "Sometimes people don't respect them for what they did."
About four years ago, the man who had previously organized the annual parade died, and Rome and Fries took up the reins.
Getting the word out, confirming who will march, and rounding up clergy and other dignitaries make the planning no small task. Preparation has already begun for this year's celebration. Yet Rome's efforts are greatly appreciated.
"She's a tremendous lady, she's very helpful," said Lenny Latzman, president of the East Meadow United Veterans Council. "It gives us a real lift, and it gives us satisfaction that they appreciate what we did."
