LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the life and accomplishments of
Mary Spink, a true public servant and civic leader

WHEREAS,  It  is  the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those
individuals of preeminent character whose lives exemplified the  highest
ideals  of  humanity  and  whose  life work and civic endeavor served to
enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State  of
New York; and
  WHEREAS, Mary Spink passed away on January 16, 2012; and
  WHEREAS,  Mary Spink is mourned not just by her family and friends but
the entire community, as she was a beloved and respected community lead-
er with a decade-long record of fighting for affordable and  sustainable
housing in Manhattan's Lower East Side; and
  WHEREAS,  Mary  Spink  was born in Schenectady, New York, in 1946, and
arrived in New York City as a teenager where she  supported  herself  by
owning and operating a dress shop, a newsstand and a hardware store, all
in  the Lower East Side; she also worked as a cook, a record promoter, a
brick layer, a dancer, a waitress,  a  plumber,  an  office  manager,  a
superintendent,  and  a  property  manager,  as well as Director of Drug
Prevention for the Archdiocese of New York; and
  WHEREAS, Mary Spink volunteered as a board  or  committee  member  for
more  than  20 organizations, including 19 years as a board or committee
member for the LES Peoples Federal Credit Union, 14  years  as  a  board
member  of  the  National  Federation  of  Community  Development Credit
Unions, and nine years as a board member and Chair of the Lower Eastside
Girls Club; and
  WHEREAS, Mary Spink was a founder and for a long time,  the  Executive
and  Development Director of the LES Peoples Mutual Housing Association,
Inc., an organization that rehabilitates vacant  multifamily  buildings,
owned  by  the  City  of  New  York,  which, in turn, provides long-term
affordable housing to its resident members; and
  WHEREAS, Mary Spink took a leadership role in the historic 2011 agree-
ment on the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area; and
  WHEREAS, For her dedication to volunteering, leadership, and  selfless
spirit  in  community  revitalization,  Mary  Spink was the recipient of
numerous awards and accolades including the Lower East Side Girls Club's
Willow Award, Andrew Heiskell Community Renaissance Award,  the  Innova-
tive Venture Award, Housing as a Human Right Award, Sara Curry Award for
Community Service, Neighborhood Advocate Award, the Annie Vamper Helping
Hands  Award,  the  Pioneer  Spirit  Award,  the Dewitt Stern Local Hero
Award, and in 2011, the New York State Senate recognized her as a  Woman
of Distinction; and
  WHEREAS,  Mary  Spink  enriched  the  lives  of  countless New Yorkers
through her passion, hard work and ingenuity, and will always be  remem-
bered for her ability to empower and better her community; and
  WHEREAS,  Armed  with  a  humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mary Spink leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she served
and befriended; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the life and accomplishments of Mary  Spink,  a  true  public
servant and civic leader; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted  to the LES Peoples Mutual Housing Association, Inc., Lower East
Side Girls Club, LES Peoples Federal Credit Union,  Community  Board  3,
Friend City Council member Rosie Mendez and the family of Mary Spink.