St. Nicholas Home hosts Bay Ridge garden party

Community Leaders gather under a tent for a good cause

September 16, 2016 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

St. Nicholas Home, 435 Ovington Ave. Photo by John Alexander

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On Saturday, Sept. 10, the St. Nicholas Home, a non-profit inter-denominational residence for elderly individuals in Bay Ridge, hosted a well-attended garden party. The gala event brought out a number of elected officials, civic leaders and members of the clergy to help raise funds to renovate the home located at 435 Ovington Ave.

Distinguished attendees included U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, state Sen. Marty Golden, state Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis, Zoe Koutsoupakis, senior vice pres. of Signature Bank, Northfield Bank vice pres. Brian Chin, The Very Rev. Thomas P. Zain of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 355 State St. and Rev. Khader El-Yateem of the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge.

The St. Nicholas Home opened its doors in 1982. It was the dream of the late Rt. Rev. Gregory Abboud of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral on State St. to build a residence for elderly people in the Arab-American community. Abboud died in 1978, but not before he signed the contract to purchase the old Bay Ridge Hospital. Along with Richard Zarick and his wife Florence, the property was secured and Abboud’s dream became a reality.

The old Bay Ridge Hospital building was renovated into a 74 bed facility to serve the community at large. And as Zarick saw it, it was a labor of love open to all family and friends.

St. Nicholas Home feels more like a hotel for seniors than an adult home, and its board of directors includes some of the most distinguished and civic minded members of the community, including doctors, lawyers and clergy.

Edward Mafoud, chairman of the St. Nicholas Home board of directors said, “To this day the St. Nicholas Home is a beacon to the elderly community of Bay Ridge and beyond. It provides those that with to nestle within its walls a dignified living experience in a caring and pleasant environment.”

George Prezioso, Executive vice president/wealth management branch manager at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a board member of the St. Nicholas Home for over 15 years and currently assistant treasurer told the Eagle, “We are always exploring new ways for the Home to serve the community. Currently, the home houses 70 residents and is exploring the possibility of adult day care. This past week’s Garden Party brought together an impressive group of community leaders and elected officials to help raise funds for the continued maintenance of the home including future ground floor renovation.”

Prezioso’s added, “The mission of the Home has always been non-sectarian and open to the entire community, regardless of ethnicity and religion. In short, it’s open to all.” It’s a hidden treasure that more people should know about.”