Letters from Our Readers:

In a message dated March 26, 2010, Dean Georges writes to Rockaway Memories

 
 

Marty,

I'm not about to make a big deal about the Museum...but I think you should be aware of the people you are working with. The original founding Board of Directors of the Rockaway Museum were:

Doris Moss, PhD. - President
Shirley Golub - Secretary
Harold Cornell - Member
Barbara Eisenstadt - Member
Dean Georges - Member
Dan Tubridy - Member
Steve Yaeger - Member

I apologize if I've omitted anyone. Leon Locke, owner of the Wave, offered the Museum the entire third floor of his building, and then, with the passing of time, the size of the space got smaller and smaller..and we kept looking elsewhere. Ultimately, we wound up on the ground floor of his building, after the Museum contracted for, and had built, a new bathroom, to meet code, of having a bath room in a place of public assembly. He was never a Director. Mr. Schwach was never involved. Emil Lucev made one or two appearances at Board meetings, but again, he was never a Director. After Doris Moss passed away, a lot of the responsibilities fell on my shoulders. I put my "Post Card Show" in various places around the Peninsula. (Jesse Plaxen's Town & Country Travel, St John's Hospital, St Mary's R.C. Church, Georges Florist, Queensboro Library {Rockaway Park Branch}, Riis Park Mall), and I set up the displays of memorabilia in the Park Theater building for the 100th Anniversary of FRHS, and finally, the display in the Wave Building for the grand opening of the Museum. None of the people named in your article were involved in any of the above. (One exception...Emil set up a small display of his old bottles, rescued from Jamaica Bay). After a while, when it seemed that I was doing most of the necessary "stuff", I had to resign from the Board. If after I left, the folks mentioned in your article took a leadership roll, I'm not aware of it, nor have I heard or read of anything (except Steve Yaeger's program of visiting local schools.)about what they have accomplished. Marty... this info need go no further than your computer... but I think it's important that you know what went on in the past, as you lead us into the future. Thanks for all your efforts.

Dean Georges, FRHS '54