LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Maureen O'Connell upon the occasion of
her designation as a 2014 Long Island Center for Business and Profes-
sional Women Achiever

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 pay tribute to
outstanding individuals who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Maureen O'Connell upon the occasion of her designation as a 2014 Long
Island Center for Business and Professional Women Achiever; this auspi-
cious occasion will be celebrated at the Center's 35th Annual Achievers'
Awards Gala, to be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014; and
WHEREAS, For more than 35 years, the Long Island Center for Business
and Professional Women has been dedicated to advancing women in busi-
ness, industry and the professions; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women
celebrates and honors women who have made significant contributions in
their fields, are leaders, mentors, and who have opened doors for other
women to help foster their rise in business, the professions and in
their community; and
WHEREAS, Nassau County Clerk, Maureen O'Connell, began her profes-
sional career as a Registered Nurse at North Shore University Hospital
upon graduating from Flushing Hospital and Medical Center School of
Nursing; during her service there, she designed and implemented the
H.O.M.E. pilot program for the home-based management of cancer patients
of the hospital, and co-authored numerous articles regarding hospice
care; and
WHEREAS, Maureen O'Connell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Health Care Administration from St. Joseph's College, and earned her
Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law, where she
received the American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law; she combined
her knowledge of law and health administration by practicing in the
areas of civil litigation, elder law, and health regulatory compliance
in the second largest law firm in Nassau County at the time; and
WHEREAS, From 1991 to 1998, Maureen O'Connell served as Trustee and
Deputy Mayor of the Incorporated Village of East Williston; and
WHEREAS, In February 1998, Maureen O'Connell was the first woman
elected to the New York State Assembly to represent the 17th District,
which included parts of the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead in
Nassau County, New York; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure as State Legislator, Maureen O'Connell
served as the Ranking Member of the Assembly's Health Committee, and in
2001, chaired the statewide taskforce on the critical shortage of nurs-
es; she also served on the Assembly Judiciary, Insurance and Ethics
Committees, and was a member of the Sexual Assault and Violence Educa-
tion (S.A.V.E.) taskforce on sex crimes and violence against women and
children; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Maureen O'Connell developed a distinguished
record of constituent service, promoted numerous community based
programs, and worked on numerous measures that were enacted into law;
and

WHEREAS, In November 2005, Maureen O'Connell was elected countywide to
the Office of Nassau County Clerk, and overwhelmingly re-elected in 2009
and 2013; currently, she serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County
Courts, and is responsible for maintaining the official index of docu-
ments relating to real property ownership in Nassau County; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Nassau County, Maureen O'Connell is a
member of the Nassau County Bar Association having served on the Medi-
cal-Legal and Elder Law-Social Services-Health Advocacy Committees, and
is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society, a member of the Mercy Leag-
ue of Roslyn and the Willistons, the American Cancer Society Breast
Cancer Detection team, serves on the Board of Directors of the St.
John's University School of Law Alumni Association, and the Maternity &
Early Childhood Foundation; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Maureen O'Connell is a member of the School of
Nursing Advisory Boards of Nassau Community College, Molloy College, and
State University of New York at Farmingdale, as well as an adjunct
faculty member of the Adelphi University School of Nursing; and
WHEREAS, Maureen O'Connell is the recipient of numerous awards and
accolades including being named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in
Business by LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout has been her husband, Don, and their son,
all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their profession and community,
and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence, certainly
have earned the recognition and applause of all citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Maureen O'Connell upon the occasion of her designation as a 2014
Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women Achiever; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Maureen O'Connell.