LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care
Center upon the occasion of hosting its annual Flower Ball on Wednesday,
April 21, 2010

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to commemorate the Terence
Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center (Cooke Center) upon the occasion of
hosting its annual Flower Ball to be held at The Pierre in New York City
on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, celebrating the residents of the Cooke
Center and the exceptional work of its staff, as well as honoring
outstanding civic leaders whose life work reflects the mission of the
Cooke Center; and
WHEREAS, The Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center proudly honors
Michael J. Brescia, M.D., Executive Medical Director of Calvary Hospital
for his groundbreaking work in the field of Hemodialysis; and Victoria
L. Sharp, M.D., Director of the HIV Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt
Hospital Center for her inventive leadership and tireless efforts on
behalf of those living with HIV/AIDS; and J. Anthony SanFilippo, M.D., a
dedicated board member of many years will receive the Terence Cardinal
Cooke Partnership Award; and David Kamp, President of Dirtworks Land-
scape Architecture will be acknowledged for his years of pro bono work
on the gardens of the Cooke Center; and
WHEREAS, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center is a 729-bed
continuing-care facility with a multitude of special care units, as well
as two large outpatient clinics; and
WHEREAS, The Cooke Center's staff respects the dignity of every human
being and recognizes each individual's potential to live as independent-
ly as possible; it provides unique approaches to the care and treatment
of its residents and patients, and serves the elderly, people with
developmental disabilities, and those who live with chronic illnesses;
as well as people of all races, creeds, economic means and ethnic back-
grounds; and
WHEREAS, The Cooke Center's tradition of providing compassionate
medical treatment began in 1890 with its predecessor institution, Flower
Free Surgical Hospital, then associated with New York Medical College;
in 1938, Flower Hospital and New York Medical College merged with Fifth
Avenue Hospital at the Center's present site on Fifth Avenue and 106th
Street; and
WHEREAS, When New York Medical College moved to Valhalla in 1978,
Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital redirected its acute care mission to become
a center of diversified healthcare under the auspices of the Archdiocese
of New York; and
WHEREAS, The Cooke Center provides a home and dignified lifestyle for
those who live with chronic illnesses -- the elderly, severely disabled
children, and people with AIDS, Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease, or
kidney failure; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, the hospital was renamed Terence Cardinal Cooke
Health Care Center in memory of New York's beloved Archbishop, whose
vision continues as the Center's guiding light; and
WHEREAS, The Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center has continuous-
ly evolved to meet the needs of a changing population; in 1989, the
Center opened a discrete unit for people with AIDS -- the first of its
kind in New York State; within four years the program grew to its
current size of 156 beds, and continues as one of the largest programs
in the State; and
WHEREAS, In addition, at the request of John Cardinal O'Connor, it
opened a 24-bed unit dedicated to caring for people with Huntington's
Disease; in 1997, to accommodate the growing number of Huntington's

patients in need of care, the unit doubled in size; it remains the only
one of its kind in New York State, and welcomes residents from around
the country; and
WHEREAS, The success of Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center is
in direct correlation to the efforts of its administration, medical
professionals and staff, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the Center and the population it serves; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center upon the occasion
of hosting its annual Flower Ball on April 21, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center; Michael J.
Brescia, M.D.; Victoria L. Sharp, M.D.; J. Anthony SanFilippo, M.D.; and
David Kamp.