By:KEITH GRANT
A month ago, Liz Coffin Allerhand entered the Long Beach Historical Society Museum on West Penn Street and her heart sank. Water was pouring from the ceiling, streaming down the walls and through the parquet floor of the historic home. A burst pipe on the second floor had nearly ruined the dining room, the only room finished in the building's restoration process.
As the wood bubbled and the one-of-a-kind wallpaper ballooned, Allerhand sprung into action to try to save the room.
"I said to [museum trustee Ron Paganini], 'We have to do something. This was on our watch,'" she said. Allerhand and Paganini then began lifesaving efforts on the home which, they hope, preserved as much of the dining area's unique features as possible.
Such concern and quick action were typical of Allerhand's dedication to the museum and the Historical Society's mission. Her contributions to the research and preservation of barrier island history earned Allerhand a place in an esteemed class of local women honored by the League of Women Voters, together with the Long Beach Historical Society, on Sunday at its third annual breakfast in celebration of Women's History Month.
The honorees ran the spectrum of Long Beach, representing a full range of communities and activism. They included Allerhand, Bernice Gross Altarac, Maria Doerstling, Rosemary Dowling, Sarah Nicholas, Julie O'Neil, Estelle Sealine, the late Marian Emanuel and the late Marilyn Gilbert.
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy was the morning's guest speaker at the sold-out event, hosted by the Lido Golf Club. McCarthy commended the women on their achievements, and talked about the impact that caring, active individuals can make.
"In Congress, I get to meet unsung heroes on a daily basis," she said. "There are so many people trying to make a difference. And one person can make a difference"
Long Beach Historical Society president Roberta Fiore introduced each of the honorees before the standing-room only audience. Allerhand was followed at the podium by Altarac, a local teacher for 40 years and past president of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers' Association.
"Bernice is a consummate Long Beacher, even though she lives in Island Park," Fiore said.
Throughout her retirement, Altarac has maintained a connection to the district as a mentor and supervising Adjunct Professor to student teachers who come to Long Beach and other districts from SUNY-Old Westbury. An active member of Temple Israel, she has served as Sisterhood President and secretary of the Temple Board. Altarac has also volunteered for the Long Beach Medical Center for over 20 years.
Doerstling was introduced as a true "unsung heroine," volunteering at a range of organizations, including the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, local nursing homes and the Coffee Concert.
"For this, Maria will only own a four-door car so that she can transport non-driving members to the [Coffee] Concerts," Fiore said.
As an East Atlantic Beach Civic Association Board member, she has helped organize many of the group's Beach Parties and Winter Holiday Celebrations.
Dowling, a Point Lookout resident, is one of the most active members of the Long Beach community. She is Founding Director of the Patient Representative Program at Long Beach Medical Center. She has been a board member for Long Beach Catholic School, the Long Termers Committee of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, and the Barrier Beach Executive Committee. She is also the founder of the Point Lookout Historical Society.
A co-president of the League of Women Voters, Nicholas is an active environmentalist who was at the forefront of the successful campaign to close the Long Beach Incinerator. She also takes an active role in the City as a regular, and vocal, attendee at City Council meetings.
"Sarah speaks out," Fiore said. "She is gentle, but knowledgeably firm. She gives credit where credit is due, and is unrelenting where she feels a wrong is being done."
At the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, Julie O'Neil plays an integral part in keeping the program successful and running seven days a week.
"The one word for Julie is humanitarian," Fiore said. "There is no limit to her generosity. The main interest in Julie's life has been to make the world a better place for the children and the poor in her community. Long Beach is truly a better place for her living in it."
A member of the League of Women Voters for over 40 years, Estelle Sealine continues to play a prominent role in the community. She edited the League newsletter for four years and currently serves on the board as Director of Publicity and Public Relations.
"Ever vigilant and motivated," Fiore said, "Estelle is always in pursuit of getting those who are elected to do the right thing for all residents of Long Beach."
Honored posthumously were Marion Emanuel and Marilyn Gilbert.
Emanuel dedicated much of her life to improving her neighborhood, founding the North Park Neighborhood Association and spending countless hours as a Neighborhood Watch captain. Her young daughters tearfully accepted the plaque in honor of the local leader who died just this past fall.
Described as a "woman ahead of her time," Gilbert was one of four founding members of the League of Women Voters of Long Beach, and served as its first president. In addition to a full-time career as a small business entrepreneur, she found time to travel and brought a global perspective to her political activities. She gave many hours as a volunteer at Long Beach Medical Center, serving as a liaison between the medical staff and patient's family members.
