LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Olga Karman Mendel, Ph.D., for her dedi-
cated community service

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the People of the State of
New York, is pleased to honor Olga Karman Mendel, Ph.D., for her dedi-
cated community service; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1940, poet, writer, lecturer and
community activist, Olga Karman Mendel, graduated from Ruston Academy
and attended Santo Tomas de Villanueva University in Havana prior to
immigrating to the United States in 1960; and
WHEREAS, In 1963, with the birth of her first child, Carla, Olga
Karman Mendel began attending Connecticut College in New London, Connec-
ticut, on a part-time basis; she graduated from Connecticut College,
summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and was the recipient of a Woodrow
Wilson fellowship; and
WHEREAS, In 1966, Olga Karman Mendel enrolled in Harvard University;
her son, Nathaniel, was born while she was attending Harvard; and
WHEREAS, Completing her doctoral dissertation on Lezama Lima's novel,
PARADISO, Olga Karman Mendel received her Ph.D., from Harvard in 1976;
she relocated to Buffalo, New York, and began teaching at the Nichols
School; and
WHEREAS, In 1980, Olga Karman Mendel joined the faculty at D'Youville
College and published her first book of poems, ADIOS; her second book of
poems is entitled BORDER CROSSING; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Olga Karman Mendel was inducted into the Western New
York Women's Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, In the summer of 2006, PurePlay Press accepted and published
Olga Karman Mendel's book SCATTER MY ASHES OVER HAVANA; and
WHEREAS, By her actions and example, Olga Karman Mendel, Ph.D.,
enriches the Buffalo, New York, area's Hispanic community; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her professional and communi-
ty service, a period of constructive involvement, Olga Karman Mendel,
Ph.D., has stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has
earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues, family and friends;
and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its diliberations to
honor Olga Karman Mendel, Ph.D., for her dedicated community service;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Olga Karman Mendel, Ph.D.