LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of
America, Inc. upon the occasion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on
April 7, 2012 and saluting Joseph Sealy, recipient of its 2012 Man of
the Year Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities of New York State are
reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those who distin-
guish themselves in their profession and in service to their community;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occasion of
its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon, to be held at the Fleur de Lis in
Ridgewood, Queens on Saturday, April 7, 2012 and to salute Joseph Sealy,
recipient of its 2012 Man of the Year Award; and
WHEREAS, Key Women of America, Inc. is a community service organiza-
tion founded in 1954 by the Reverend Bertha Nelms Harris, an ordained
minister who had a deep desire to address the needs of children in the
home, schools, institutions, and in conflict with the law; and
WHEREAS, She called on women leaders to join with her to address these
concerns; she called the women who joined with her "Key Women" and, what
began as a small group of women in Harlem, New York, grew into a larger
group and on December 23, 1966, they incorporated as Key Women of Ameri-
ca, Inc. and chose Investment in Children, Family Service, Community
Needs, and World Concerns as their mission; and
WHEREAS, With Manhattan as its founding and parent body, branches
began to be formed in other boroughs, including Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. was organ-
ized in 1972 under the leadership of Mrs. Lillian James; the officers
and members were and continue to be civic minded women who are dedicated
to Key Women's mission and, since its inception, it has undertaken a
variety of worthy causes; and
WHEREAS, Each year at its Annual Awards Luncheon, the Brooklyn Branch
of Key Women of America, Inc. proudly honors individuals who exemplify
those principles and values; Joseph Sealy truly merits such recognition;
and
WHEREAS, Joseph Sealy is a proud native son of the beautiful island of
Barbados and is the sixth of eight children; Joseph Sealy was, from the
time he was a youngster, very serious about education and has remained
that way to this day; and
WHEREAS, Blessed with a mother who believed that having a good educa-
tion is important, Joseph Sealy had no choice but to strive to be his
best at all times, whether he wanted to or not, there was no alterna-
tive; a woman of high demands, clear expectations and a love for and a
fear of God, his mother was a source of inspiration, support, and admi-
ration all of her life and is so, even now, after her passing on July
20, 2011 at the age of 93; and
WHEREAS, At a very early age, Joseph Sealy knew he wanted to be a
teacher and a musician; this has been his desire from his first day at
his alma mater, Combermere Boys School, in Barbados; his first day of
high school put that pursuit further into motion when he had his first
lesson in Latin; there were no qualms or queries as to what he would
become as a professional and, it was at this point that his linguistic
propensities began to manifest themselves; and

WHEREAS, As a result, he developed his interest in literature and
romance philology at the secondary and tertiary levels of his academic
specialization, and he continues to nurture that passion; and
WHEREAS, Like his mother, a strong believer that a good education
provides endless possibilities, Joseph Sealy has dedicated more than
three decades to sharing his knowledge with students of all ages and
likewise, uses the experiences of all his students to assist him in
enhancing and honing his pedagogical skills to fine tune his craft; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Sealy's marriage to Harriet has produced Johara and
Flara; his maternal tenets, clear expectations and high demands are
transmitted unyieldingly to them: the love for God and neighbor and the
importance of a good education, he believes are among the essential
ingredients for a well-lived and successful journey on earth; and
WHEREAS, These qualities, which he continually instills in his chil-
dren, are the same sentiments he shares with all others to whom he is
called to facilitate learning; and
WHEREAS, Having dedicated all his professional life to education,
Joseph Sealy has been Assistant Principal at P.S./M.S. 138 in Brooklyn
for the past eight years under the leadership of Ms. Marie Chauvet-Mon-
chik; he is also the church organist at the Episcopal Church of the
Nativity; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Sealy is often described as a faithful and committed
steward in both capacities and believes that every endeavor should be
purposefully pursued in the name of excellence; 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, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occa-
sion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on April 7, 2012 and to salute
Joseph Sealy, recipient of its 2012 Man of the Year Award; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. and to
Joseph Sealy.