City names Gravesend corner in memory of teen program founder
Friends say Barbara Dattilo helped hundreds of young people
A Gravesend woman who founded a program for teenagers at her local church and served as a mentor to hundreds of neighborhood young people over the years was posthumously honored by New York City which officially dedicated a new street sign in her name.
A sign declaring the corner of Avenue W and East 2nd Street as “Barbara Dattilo Way” was unveiled during a ceremony on Sunday attended by members of her family, leaders of the teen group she founded, and priests from her parish, Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church.
Councilmember Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-Bensonhurst) sponsored the legislation that paved the way for the street dedication. He spoke at the ceremony about Dattilo’s impact on the community.
“Barbara Dattilo was an incredible friend, neighbor and an inspiration to so many people across Gravesend and southern Brooklyn, so I am proud that the community was able to honor her legacy. She worked tirelessly and away from the spotlight to mentor our young adults and help them become productive and caring members of society. Barbara was a true leader who always put others ahead of herself, and her contributions will always be remembered by our community,” Treyger said.