By Nick Buglione
This Friday, a new challenge will come Hodish's way when he takes the reins as East Meadow Chamber of Commerce president at the organization's 48th annual Installation of Officers and Directors.
"To be truly successful," said Hodish, who joined the chamber in the mid-1990s, not long after starting a private law practice in Garden City, "I always felt it's an obligation to give back."
He's spent much of his adult years doing just that.
Hodish was born and raised in Cambria Heights, Queens, and his intellectual aptitude was evident at an early age. He was allowed to skip the eighth grade, and at age 16 he was already enrolled at C.W. Post, where he studied history.
Although he'd always been interested in a career in law, Hodish took a teaching position in the Hempstead School District when he graduated -- a job he would hold for 20 years. "I had a good time there -- I enjoyed the challenges," he said, adding that many of the children he taught came from rough backgrounds, often from single-parent homes. "I found, for the most part, that if you took the time, the kids were receptive."
Hodish has long had a soft spot for children, particularly disadvantaged ones. When he was just 5, he lost his own father. "I had a lot of people along the way that were mentors to me," he said.
While still teaching in Hempstead in 1979, Hodish and his wife, Denise, moved to East Meadow. The community was a perfect fit for him. "I loved the diversity," he said. "There are people from all aspects of life in East Meadow. You have professionals, non-professionals -- good, solid people. The other thing I liked was the spirit. There was a lot of loyalty to the community."
Having never lost the ambition to become a lawyer, Hodish enrolled in the law school at St. John's in 1985. He taught during the day and went to school at night, earning his degree in 1989. "I always wanted to be an attorney growing up," he said. "I taught for many years, and it had come time to shift gears and see what I was all about. I started my own practice in 1993."
Though no longer a teacher, Hodish remained dedicated to community service. He founded the Nassau County Bar Association's Mentor Program, in which local judges and lawyers take "at risk" middle school students in several school districts, including East Meadow, under their wing.
"When I left teaching, it was something I wanted to establish," Hodish said. "It's rewarding, and we get tremendous feedback from the students."
Soon after starting his own practice, which focuses on personal injury, criminal law and real estate, Hodish also became active in East Meadow Kiwanis and the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce.
"Alan has served as our community service chairperson for a number of years," said Chris Hackert, president of East Meadow Kiwanis and a chamber member. "He also orchestrates our food baskets program, which go out to needy families three times a year. He does an incredible job with that."
According to Richard Bivone, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Hodish became a standout member. "You're always looking for people who want to do the job," Bivone said. "When we asked him, years ago, if he wanted to [eventually become president] he said, 'Absolutely, without a doubt.'"
After years of moving up the ladder, Hodish will reach the top rung on Jan. 31. Outgoing President Warren Kalmenson believes Hodish will do an outstanding job. "I think Alan will make a great leader," Kalmenson said. "He gets very involved in his projects, and he's an easy person to work and get along with."
During his one-year term, Hodish plans to come up with new fund-raising events and increase membership. He also wants to reestablish relations with old members whom the chamber has lost contact with. "We put together a committee to start a phone-a-thon dedicated to getting back old members that have fallen through the cracks and to make calls to potential new members," he said.
The Hodishes have been married for 26 years and have three children: Megan, a first-year kindergarten teacher in the Hempstead School District; Kristen, a junior at Loyola College in Baltimore; and Steven, a junior at East Meadow High School.
