Street named for late Queens assemblymember

Family and former governmental colleagues gathered in Kew Gardens Hills on Sunday to re-name a street after Assemblymember Michael Simanowitz, who passed away in 2017. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach 

By Ryan Schwach

Family, friends and former colleagues gathered on Sunday in Kew Gardens Hills to re-name a corner of Main Street in honor of late Assemblymember Michael Simanowitz, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 45.

The corner of Main Street and 75th Avenue was named for Simanowitz, who served the community in office for six years and several more as his chief of staff for his predecessor and as an auxiliary police officer at the 107th Precinct.

He was remembered on Sunday for his humor and fierce dedication to his Queens community.

“I just don't have enough words in my heart to tell you how much I miss this man,” and how much love he engendered,” said former councilmember and longtime friend of Simanowitz, Barry Grodenchik, who MCd the renaming attended by dozens remembering Simanowitz.

“If you need to know how much love he engendered, in my heart, in the hearts of all those who knew him, just take a look around at this magnificent crowd, who is here today, nearly six and a half years after he passed to honor his memory,” Grodenchik added.

That sentiment was echoed by many of the speakers who knew Simanowitz throughout his life, whether it was as a community member, during his nearly 30 years working for Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn or his time in elected office.

“Even though I was technically more senior than him, he is someone that I and many went to all the time for advice, for motivation,” said Representative Grace Meng. “The best gift that anyone can leave in this earthly world is to have created a better life for so many people, and he did this for tens of thousands of people in his district, and for people all throughout the state of New York.”

Simanowitz represented the 27th Assembly district, which covers the Eastern Queens communities around Kew Gardens and College Point, following Mayersohn’s retirement and was known for his dry sense of humor and his use of the phrase “living the dream,” which he repeated when he was asked how he was doing.

“Living the dream, my father is known for this saying,” said his son Joshua Simanowitz, now the district director for District 27’s current office holder, Sam Berger.

“I am consistently asked what it means, and I'm sitting here looking around, and it's obvious what it means,” he said. “Looking at everyone here, that was the dream.”

Former State Assemblymember Michael Simanowitz, who passed away in 2017.  Photo via Assemblymembet Nily Rozic 

Joshua Simanowitz remembered his late father for who he was as a person, as well as a community leader.

“My father had this impeccable ability to just fix anything at any time,” he said. “I find myself even to this day calling him because there was not a single problem that he didn't know how to fix. And even though he was willing to admit when he didn't know something, it was very rare that he didn't.”

“Somehow, he was always there,” he added. “To and from Albany, after school, coaching my Little League team, hockey games and practices…He was always there.”

Simanowitz was succeeded in office by Daniel Rosenthal, who won the special election following his death. After Rosenthal’s resignation last year, Berger was also elected by special election to the mantle of the 27th District.

“I believe very strongly that to build a brighter future, you need to look back to the past, and those who came before and the lessons that they have to teach us,” Berger said. “If I can be a tenth of the man he was, and I can be a tenth of the legislator that he was, I'll consider that a good run.”

Simanowitz was also honored by other former elected colleagues, who remember his determination to fight for his district in Albany.

“We are all here because Michael Simanowitz touched a lot of our lives,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

“Wherever this community was forgotten, he reminded people that we were here, and that there were needs and that those needs had to be met,” she said. “That's a good guy, and that's a great elected official.”

Among the bills Simanowitz passed into law during his time in the Assembly were a law that required minors to have parental consent before getting a body piercing, and one that banned the use of unclaimed bodies as cadavers in education settings without consent from family or were registered as a donor, according to the New York Times.

Simanowitz was remembered by other members of his family including his other three children, wife and mother, community members and other elected officials like Borough President Donovan Richards, Senator Leroy Comrie and Councilmember Lynn Schulman.

The work to rename a street in his memory was among the first efforts from Berger upon his election victory last year, and carried legislatively in the City Council by Jim Gennaro.

Former colleagues and friends remembered the late Assemblymember Michael Simanowitz for his humor and dedication to the community at a street renaming over the weekend. Eagle photo by Ryan Schwach 

Gennaro also spoke of his late friend, and read from a post he made when Simanowitz died of an undisclosed cancer in 2017.

“Your memory will always be a blessing for all those fortunate enough to know you,” said Gennaro. “Your good works on behalf of the thousands you did not know will continue to enrich their lives immeasurably. I and all you knew and touched or better for having known you. This is your legacy.”