LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jerry M. Iannece upon the occasion of
his designation for special recognition

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, Jerry M. Iannece has given not only of his time and energies
but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently
has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jerry M.
Iannece upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition;
and
WHEREAS, Jerry Iannece was born in 1959, the youngest of three chil-
dren, to immigrant parents from Italy; the family lived in Hell's Kitch-
en, New York City, until they moved to Astoria, Queens, where he
attended local grammar schools and high school; and
WHEREAS, In high school, Jerry Iannece began to display the leadership
and academic skills that would characterize his life; he played varsity
baseball, was elected Vice-President of the National Honor Society, and
President of his School and Class in 1977; he graduated with honors in
the top 2% of his class, and won an academic scholarship to New York
University (NYU); and
WHEREAS, While attending NYU, Jerry Iannece founded the Italian Ameri-
can Students Organization, as well as the "AIUTO," the American Italian
University Terimoto Organization, raised thousands of dollars for Avel-
lino earthquake victims in 1979, was elected Vice President of the Pre-
Law Society, and initiated an NYU Cultural Exchange Program with Italy;
in 1981 he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating with honors
after only three and 1/2 years with a double major in History and Poli-
tical Science; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Iannece went on to St. John's University School of Law,
becoming the first descendant of immigrants from his parent's small town
in Italy to do so; he excelled at trial work in law school, winning
virtually every trial competition he entered, and representing his
school in the American Bar Association Finals; he was elected President
of the St. John's Law Student Bar Association in his final year, and his
administration is still regarded as one of the most innovative and
effective in the school history; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduation from law school, Jerry Iannece went to work
as an Assistant District Attorney under District Attorney Mario Merola
in the Bronx, quickly advancing and moving to a Trial Bureau; after
trying numerous major felony cases, he left the Bronx District Attor-
ney's office and started his own law firm, Iannece & Calvacca; and
WHEREAS, Jerry M. Iannece has been called upon to contribute his time
and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always
given of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, In 1987 he was appointed Legal Counsel to the Federation of
Italian American Organizations of Queens, and was called upon to revive
the long dormant Queens Columbus Parade; under his leadership as chair-
man of the parade, it quickly grew to become the second largest in NYC,
and has continuously marched for well over a decade; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Jerry Iannece launched a pro-bono federal civil
rights lawsuit against a local Queens County civic association for
discrimination against Italian-Americans, compelling them to retreat; he
also convinced the Italian government to initiate Italian language
courses in local schools, and founded the North East Queens Italian
American Political Association; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Iannece's infectious enthusiasm and outstanding civic
involvement was recognized by others; he was appointed by Queens Borough
President Claire Shulman to Community Board No. 11, and was quickly
chosen as its Zoning Chairman; in 2002 he was elected to serve as Commu-
nity Board No. 11's Chairman and, after stepping down from the chairman-
ship in 2007 due to term limits, he was enthusiastically re-elected as
Chairman in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Iannece serves on the boards of directors of numerous
altruistic organizations and, in 1996, was elected President and Chair-
man of the Board of the Bayside Hills Civic Association in northeast
Queens; he was instrumental in dealing with a number of extremely impor-
tant issues facing Queens County; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Iannece's proudest accomplishment is the Oakland Lake
Ravine Project, a substantial initiative to remediate major flooding in
Bayside and Bayside Hills, which was a major win for every community
involved; the project also helped save Oakland Lake, created wetlands,
and cleaned up the ecosystem while putting thousands of union employees
to work; and
WHEREAS, While maintaining a thriving law practice, a full community
civic schedule, and being an active parent and husband, Jerry Iannece
also finds time to coach Little League baseball and basketball, lectures
students at Career Days and Forums, and provides free legal counsel and
law-related lectures to a host of civic, social, political, and educa-
tional organizations; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Jerry M. Iannece has stood constant
in dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Lynn Calvacca
Iannece, and their children, Vincent and Elena, all of whom feel privi-
leged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Jerry M. Iannece has displayed
throughout his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Jerry M. Iannece upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jerry M. Iannece.