By Mike Schnitzel
According to Mayor Eugene Scarpato, Scordato was not feeling well at work that day at the Lynbrook Police Department, where she had served as a dispatcher since 1987. At the end of the day she fainted, and an ambulance was called to take her to South Nassau Communities Hospital. She died en route of cardiac arrest, Scarpato said.
"She was one of the most reliable dispatchers we ever had and very active in the community," the mayor said. "She was a solid person - everybody loved her."
Scordato, who moved to Lynbrook in 1964, had a passion for community activism, serving on the village's expo and winter celebration committees. She was also involved with the 4H Club, which she served as a leader for more than 20 years, helping to mentor the community's youth. Her work with 4H led her to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, where she helped to socialize guide dogs, training them to assist the visually impaired.
"She trained seven dogs since 1982, and five of them went on to serve as guide dogs for the blind," said DiGiorgio. "She would have them from the time they were small puppies until they were a little over a year old, and then give them back [to the foundation] so they could be matched up with a blind person to assist."
Scordato also had a passion for horses and gardening. "I think after her grandchildren, [horses] were her second love," said DiGiorgio.
Scordato drove around adults and children alike during Lynbrook's annual Expo and also during the annual Christmas tree lighting.
Mary Ann Hoesel, who sits on the village's beautification committee and architectural review board, knew Scordato for 42 years. "We had a very interesting relationship because there was a 13-year difference in our ages," said Hoesel. "I met Marilyn when I was 11, I played with her kids, and then we grew apart. I was a teenager and she was a mother."
Hoesel said that about 15 years ago they rekindled their friendship while both were in the process of getting divorced. They became each other's support systems through rough times. Scordato got Hoesel involved with the community, and they remained close friends for the remainder of Scordato's life.
"The good life for Ma" - as Hoesel referred to Scordato - "was sitting on her front porch reading a good book with a strong cup of coffee and looking at her garden," said Hoesel. "It was the simple things in life that made her the happiest, and she will be greatly missed."
Besides DiGiorgio, who lives in New Jersey, Scordato is survived by two other daughters, Patricia Walters, of Ohio, and Christine Scordato, of Boston; two brothers, Richard and Robert Seidler; a sister, Carol Amrhien; and grandchildren Benjamin, Sara, Leah and Liam.
A wake was held at Flinch and Bruns Funeral Home July 20. The funeral mass took place the following day at St. Raymond's R.C. Church in East Rockaway.
Comments about this story? MSchnitzel@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 265.
