2013-J554

Honoring Dr. Linda Leest upon the occasion of her retirement after 28 years of distinguished service to Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.

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2013-J554


LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Linda Leest upon the occasion of her
retirement after 28 years of distinguished service to Services Now for
Adult Persons, Inc.

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr.
Linda Leest upon the occasion of her retirement after 28 years of
distinguished service to Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Leest has been the President/CEO of Services Now for
Adult Persons, Inc. (SNAP) since 1985; under her leadership, SNAP has
grown both in size and in scope of services, from case management, home-
delivered meals and transportation, to include the Floral Park, the Bell
Park and the Queens Village Senior Centers; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Leest has been a professional social worker and adminis-
trator in the field of gerontology for 32 years; she earned a Master of
Social Work degree and a doctorate in social welfare from the Wurzweiler
School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, where she has served as an
adjunct professor; and
WHEREAS, Linda Leest was born and raised in the Bronx where she met
her future husband Steven; she attended Hunter College High School and
Hunter College in Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, After taking some time off from academia to start a family,
Dr. Leest reentered the workforce as a teacher in Co-Op City, the
Bronx; prior to working at SNAP, she was a social worker at the Jewish
Association for Services to the Aged (JASA) in both Coney Island and
eastern Queens; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her success as a President/CEO, Dr. Leest
always recognized the need for advocacy to meet the growing and emerging
needs of the elderly; she currently serves a leadership role on many
boards, and is a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Aging;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Leest is past President of the New York State Aging
Services Advisory Committee, the Queens Interagency Council on Aging and
the New York State Coalition for the Aging; she was presented with the
prestigious statewide Henrietta Rabe award in June 2001 for recognition
as a leader in the field of aging, and also was named the 2001 Outstand-
ing Social Worker in Queens; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Leest was also presented with a Declaration of Honor in
2001; in 2005, she was presented with the Maggie Kuhn award from Pres-
byterian Senior Services for distinguished services on behalf of the
elderly, and in 2008, received the Rose Kryzak Leadership Award for
years of dedicated service and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as President/CEO, Linda Leest served with
loyalty, honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, Along with her husband, Steven, with her throughout have been
their three sons and four grandchildren, all of whom feel privileged to
be a part of her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure with Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.,
Linda Leest earned the admiration, esteem and affection of her
colleagues; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Linda Leest upon the occasion of her retirement after 28 years
of distinguished service to Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Linda Leest.

actions

  • 21 / Feb / 2013
    • REFERRED TO FINANCE
  • 28 / Feb / 2013
    • REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
  • 28 / Feb / 2013
    • ADOPTED

Resolution Details

Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative

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