LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Gloria Pesce upon the occasion of her
designation as the recipient of the 2010 Florence Gould Gross Award to
Friends of People with Mental Illness by NAMI-FAMILYA of Rockland County
on June 16, 2010

WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations which bring greater awareness to
mental health issues, and assist people with mental illnesses in their
quest for dignity and independence, are a great benefit to the health
and welfare of all citizens; and
WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and
organizations to be honored for the significance of their contributions
and efforts to assist others in developing lives of dignity and self-
worth, recognizing they are deserving of the highest praise and acclama-
tion; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Gloria Pesce upon the occasion of her designation as the recipient of
the 2010 Florence Gould Gross Award to Friends of People with Mental
Illness by NAMI-FAMILYA of Rockland County at a dinner held on Wednes-
day, June 16, 2010, at the View on the Hudson, Piermont, New York; and
WHEREAS, A dedicated NAMI-FAMILYA Board member and Volunteer, Gloria
Pesce has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for those
struggling with mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Gloria Pesce has been involved with NAMI-FAMILYA since its
founding in 1981, when she saw an ad in the Journal News for a support
group for family members of people with mental illness; like so many
other parents with children suffering from a mental illness, before
finding NAMI-FAMILYA, she had felt she had nowhere to turn; and
WHEREAS, The fledgling group Gloria Pesce joined in 1981 is, today,
one of the most active and effective advocacy and education groups in
the country, thanks to the efforts of Gloria and the other devoted
volunteers and leaders at NAMI-FAMILYA; and
WHEREAS, As an active Board member, Gloria Pesce has worked tirelessly
to support the organization and to advocate for people with mental
illness; a true unsung hero, she has worked behind the scenes in a vari-
ety of volunteer jobs that help keep the organization strong and
vibrant; she has led many fundraising events, which are critical to the
organization's survival; she is also active on the hospitality committee
and chaired numerous holiday parties which welcome volunteers and
consumers and their families; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, Gloria Pesce and her fellow volunteers
have accomplished so much, including coming closer to eliminating the
stigma and the secrecy and shame of having a family member with mental
illness; today, people can talk openly about mental illness in their
families and get the support and services every individual deserves; and
WHEREAS, Professionally, Gloria Pesce worked for 17 years for St.
Agatha Home for Children and five years for Volvo, NA, before her
retirement in 1995; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Mike, and their
children, Michael and Gloria, all of whom feel privileged to be a part
of her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, intellect and commitment as that demonstrated by Gloria
Pesce, over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-

tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those individ-
uals for edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Gloria Pesce upon the occasion of her designation as the recipient
of the 2010 Florence Gould Gross Award to Friends of People with Mental
Illness by NAMI-FAMILYA of Rockland County; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Gloria Pesce.