LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the life and accomplishments of
Mary Spink, a true public servant and civic leader

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those
individuals of preeminent character whose lives exemplified the highest
ideals of humanity and whose life work and civic endeavor served to
enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink passed away on January 16, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink is mourned not just by her family and friends but
the entire community, as she was a beloved and respected community lead-
er with a decade-long record of fighting for affordable and sustainable
housing in Manhattan's Lower East Side; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink was born in Schenectady, New York, in 1946, and
arrived in New York City as a teenager where she supported herself by
owning and operating a dress shop, a newsstand and a hardware store, all
in the Lower East Side; she also worked as a cook, a record promoter, a
brick layer, a dancer, a waitress, a plumber, an office manager, a
superintendent, and a property manager, as well as Director of Drug
Prevention for the Archdiocese of New York; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink volunteered as a board or committee member for
more than 20 organizations, including 19 years as a board or committee
member for the LES Peoples Federal Credit Union, 14 years as a board
member of the National Federation of Community Development Credit
Unions, and nine years as a board member and Chair of the Lower Eastside
Girls Club; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink was a founder and for a long time, the Executive
and Development Director of the LES Peoples Mutual Housing Association,
Inc., an organization that rehabilitates vacant multifamily buildings,
owned by the City of New York, which, in turn, provides long-term
affordable housing to its resident members; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink took a leadership role in the historic 2011 agree-
ment on the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area; and
WHEREAS, For her dedication to volunteering, leadership, and selfless
spirit in community revitalization, Mary Spink was the recipient of
numerous awards and accolades including the Lower East Side Girls Club's
Willow Award, Andrew Heiskell Community Renaissance Award, the Innova-
tive Venture Award, Housing as a Human Right Award, Sara Curry Award for
Community Service, Neighborhood Advocate Award, the Annie Vamper Helping
Hands Award, the Pioneer Spirit Award, the Dewitt Stern Local Hero
Award, and in 2011, the New York State Senate recognized her as a Woman
of Distinction; and
WHEREAS, Mary Spink enriched the lives of countless New Yorkers
through her passion, hard work and ingenuity, and will always be remem-
bered for her ability to empower and better her community; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mary Spink leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she served
and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the life and accomplishments of Mary Spink, a true public
servant and civic leader; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the LES Peoples Mutual Housing Association, Inc., Lower East
Side Girls Club, LES Peoples Federal Credit Union, Community Board 3,
Friend City Council member Rosie Mendez and the family of Mary Spink.