By: Nicole Falco
The wife of a longtime member of the Zoning Board of Appeals died Monday after she apparently suffered a heart attack while driving.
Anne Malekian, 74, whose husband, George, serves on the zoning board, apparently went into cardiac arrest while at the wheel of her 1989 Cadillac DeVille, police said. Her car struck a 2000 Saturn driven by an unidentified Valley Stream resident. The driver of the Saturn was not injured, police said.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Melrose and Emerson Place, just down the block from Malekian-s Melrose Street home, the police report said. Malekian received medical attention at the scene and was rushed to Franklin Hospital Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead an hour later.
Malekian-s family could not be reached for comment as of press time Wednesday morning. Many in the community, including members of the Valley Stream Garden Club, which Anne Malekian helped found, and New York No. 1 Elks Lodge, where her husband is a member, as well as village officials who knew Malekian through her husband, remembered her fondly.
If she was involved in something, she was really involved, said Muriel Hillander, president of the garden club.
Gloria Drucker, Malekian-s friend of more than 20 years, agreed and added, She was a terrific person to know. She possessed a high moral character.
Hillander said Malekian was honored as a lifetime member of the Garden Club. In fact, Malekian, a past president of the club, helped charter the club in 1964. Among other things, members are responsible for maintaining the herb garden at the Pagan-Fletcher Restoration, and each year they decorate a Christmas tree that is displayed inside the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library. Drucker recalled her friend-s talent as a floral designer and mentioned that Malekian had studied art history and painting.
Hillander said that Malekian was also very active at the Franklin Square Senior Center, where she played bridge and took a calligraphy class, recently .
Vinny Ang, village clerk, knew Malekian through his mother, who was also a member of the Garden Club. According to Ang, Malekian was a remarkable lady who loved every minute of her life. Ang said Malekian enjoyed tennis, bike riding and spending time with her children, and she worshiped her grandchildren.
Mayor Edward Cahill called Malekian a perfect lady, and he noted the tremendous loss for her family and the village.
Through George, Malekian was well-known among Elks. George is a past state president of the Elks, and he and his wife visited Elks lodges throughout the state.
Rita Wangenstein, past exalted ruler of the local lodge, knew Malekian more than 25 years. Wangenstein, whose husband Noel was a member of the Staten Island Elks lodge before joining Valley Stream-s, met Malekian during George-s tenure as state president.
I-m really taken back by [her death], Wangenstein said. She was a lovely lady ... no matter when you asked her to help with something, she was always there.
Wangenstein, a former Doe, credits Malekian with helping to keep Does, the former ladies auxiliary of the Elks, alive. Malekian was president of the Valley Stream Does from 1964 to 1965. The Does merged with the Elks about four years ago.
Paul Brown, secretary of the local Elks lodge, knew Malekian for more than 40 years. Anne has been at her husband George-s side, supporting his efforts in serving the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Brown said. She truly epitomized that old saying that behind every great man there-s an even better woman. Anne was a sweet, kind and caring individual who will be sorely missed.
Malekian will be waked at The Moore Funeral Home on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be private.
Besides her husband of more than 50 years, Malekian is survived by a sister, Gloria Brown, of Georgia; a brother, Salvatore Martino, of Florida; two sons, Stephen, and his wife Holly, and Richard and his wife, Phyllis; and four grandchildren, Jack, Geoffrey, Margaux and Spencer.
