Tag: Bronx Heroes

How One Bronx Woman Has Supported Thousands of Our Troops Stationed Overseas

NY1 reporter Erin Clark shares a heartwarming story about a Bronx woman from Country Club known as Aunt Cathy to thousands of soldiers stationed abroad who’ve received one of her almost 5,000 care packages.

Catherine Praino began sending care packages and adopting platoons overseas after her own nephew, Christian Engeldrum, was killed in Afghanistan in a roadside bombing attack.

Puerto Rican Born, Bronx Raised Rita Moreno to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

Back in July, the Kennedy Center announced that Rita Moreno, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved with her family to The Bronx when she was 6, will be one of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors which is given to those in the performing arts that have greatly contributed to American culture.

Moreno is no stranger to awards having been the 3rd artist to receive the coveted EGOT: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards and the first Latino to do so back in 1977, the same year Helen Hayes became the 2nd artist and first female in achieving the same.

We Remember You

On a day like today we should stop the xenophobia that is plaguing our communities and country and love each other. Today is a day for love, not hatred and if you sow hatred in your hearts for those different than you then let today be the day you yank those weeds and replace it with seeds of love for your fellow humans. Do it for those no longer with us.

A Pillar of Pelham Parkway and The Bronx, Elaine Feder, Passes Away

The Bronx has one less activist and proud community member.

Elaine Feder (née Serkes), a lifetime resident of the Pelham Parkway neighborhood of our borough and a founding member of the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association passed away earlier this week.

“She was passionate and fierce when it came to the quality of life of this neighborhood. She help us to start the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and was part of our board since the very beginning.” said friend PPNA member, Louis Lutnick.

Another Bronx Woman Makes History, This Time in NASCAR as 1st Female Starter

Bronx women are breaking barriers left and right.

Last week we had the story of Lt. Col Merryl Tengesdal, a Bronx native, who became the first African-American female to ever pilot the U-2 and now this Sunday, Kim Lopez, a Bronx native of Puerto Rican descent, will be the first woman and Hispanic to be the chief starter for the 57th Daytona 500.

Remembering Bronx Native Bess Myerson, 1st & Only Jewish Miss America

Without much as a whisper of her passing, Bronx born and raised Bess Myerson, America’s first and only Jewish Miss America, passed away last month on December 14th at the age of 90. She was known as the woman who refused to change her name so it wouldn’t sound too Jewish.

Myerson, who was crowned Miss America in 1945 just days after the end of World War II, lived in Van Cortlandt Village area of The Bronx with her family at Shalom Aleichem Cooperative, one of the country’s first residential cooperatives.

Bronx Native Bess Myerson, 1st & Only Jewish Miss America Has Died

Without much as a whisper of her passing, Bronx born and raised Bess Myerson, America’s first and only Jewish Miss America, passed away last month on December 14th at the age of 90. She was known as the woman who refused to change her name so it wouldn’t sound too Jewish.

Myerson, who was crowned Miss America in 1945 just days after the end of World War II, lived in Van Cortlandt Village area of The Bronx with her family at Shalom Aleichem Cooperative, one of the country’s first residential cooperatives.

MTA operator led millions, including son, in safe commutes – NY Daily News

Recently, I nominated my father for a Daily News Hometown Hero Award and the paper decided to write a story on him and he is now a candidate for the award.

Here’s an excerpt of the story and make sure to click the link at the end to watch the video. A big thanks to the Daily News for thinking my dad’s story was worthy of a nomination.