Coney Island

City dedicates street corner in memory of Coney Island civic leader

August 26, 2013 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Councilman Domenic Recchia hosted a ceremony marking the dedication of a Coney Island street corner in memory of a civic and political leader in the community.

At the Aug. 22 ceremony, the northeast corner of Seabreeze Avenue and West Fifth Street was officially re-named “Paul Podhaizer Way” to memorialize Podhaizer, who served as Democratic district leader in the 46th Assembly District, chairman of the tenants’ council in Brightwater Towers, vice president of Temple Beth Abraham and was a member of Community Board 13.

A new street sign was unveiled during the ceremony, which was attended by members of Community Board 13 and Podhaizer’s family. Podhaizer died in 2010. 

In this role as chairman of the tenants’ council, Podhaizer was a tireless advocate for his neighbors and constantly sought to improve the quality of life for the entire community, according to Recchia, who sponsored the bill in the City Council seeking the name change for the street corner. Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the bill earlier this year.

“I am privileged to rename a street in honor of Paul Podhaizer,” Recchia (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-Bensonhurst) said. “Paul’s love of this community was second to none and the contributions he made to improve the lives of people in Brighton Beach and Coney Island will live on for many years to come.”

In addition to his devotion to the community, tenants’ issues and politics, Podhaizer as also active in the Deborah Hospital Foundation. The foundation helps raise funds for Deborah Hospital, a New Jersey-based facility specializing in cardiac care. 

His wife Ruth died earlier this year. She is survived by the couple’s sons, Alan and Stuart.

 

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