Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski, a Latina leader who dedicated her life to public service on behalf of the Puerto Rican and Latino community, peacefully passed away at the age of 81, surrounded by her loving family in her home in Smithtown, NY on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.
She is survived by her two children, Michelle Remeneski Katsch and Frankie Remeneski, and seven grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Born on January 15, 1938 to Providencia O’Neil and Armando Rodriguez. Shirley’s long legacy in the public service began in 1965 as she created and directed the first Social Services Unit in the Bronx Borough President’s Office, under the leadership of Herman Badillo and his successor Robert Abrams. In 1971, she became the District Administrator for US Congressman Herman Badillo, managing and coordinating operations between NYC and Washington, DC.
Subsequently, as part of the Koch administration, Shirley became Assistant Deputy Mayor for affirmative action, intergovernmental relations, and community development in the South Bronx, Harlem and other underdeveloped areas in NYC.
Subsequently, as part of the Koch administration, Shirley became Assistant Deputy Mayor for affirmative action, intergovernmental relations, and community development in the South Bronx, Harlem and other underdeveloped areas in NYC.
After Jimmy Carter’s visit to the South Bronx, declaring the area the Nation’s disgrace, Shirley went on to become the Legislative Coordinator for the South Bronx Development Organization (SBDO), headed by Ed Logue, where she acquired grants for the Bathgate Industrial Park, the Charlotte Gardens Housing Development Project. Help secure federal funding to create the South Bronx Job Corps Center, land revitalization projects; name the South Bronx an Empowerment Zone in order to support private business development and housing assistance to community -based organizations.
In 1986, she assumed the position of Executive Director of Governor Mario Cuomo’s Office for Hispanic Affairs where she initiated the Puerto Rico Exchange of Officials Program in an effort to enhance governmental services to Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico and in the State of New York; she started the Hispanic Mentoring Program which enrolled more than 300 students from throughout NYS to attend Baruch College, in partnership with the NYC Board of Education, private employers and the Governor’s office. During this time, she served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Libraries and Informational Services to help author the 1988 Hispanic National Agenda.
In 2002, Governor Pataki appointed Shirley as Senior Vice President at the Empire State Development Corporation’s Economic Development Division. Prior to joining the Pataki administration, she served as Deputy Commissioner and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Among the many of the professional and civic endeavors Shirley was involved with, she founded the 100 Hispanic Women, Inc. in 1996 with a group of dynamic and professional Latina women, committed to empowering Latinas through several scholarship and mentoring programs to assist Latina CUNY scholars attend undergraduate and post graduate schools. Now in its 22nd year, the 100 Hispanic Women is still thriving and growing, providing young Latinas with scholarship support.
Shirley also had a vision for and the heavy involvement in the establishment of the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls/ the Shirley Rodriguez Remeneski School, for young girls K-5th elementary school and 6-8 middle school in the Bronx. With a dual language program in Spanish and English, all students receive an intellectually challenging curriculum, enriched by a cultural and musically rich perspective.
Shirley served on numerous boards among them, as Chair of the Bronx Lebanon Hospital, currently the BronxCare Health System; the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Multicultural Audience Development Advisory Committee; and the Hostos Community College Foundation Board.
In recognition of her tireless efforts, Shirley was the recipient of countless awards from the US House of Representatives; the NYS Senate; the NY Knicks; the Puerto Rican Bar Association, Verizon; the United Bronx Organization; El Diario; Governor Pataki; the Girl Scouts; the Hispanic Society for the NY & NJ Port Authority; the NYS Department of Correctional Services and Hispanic Magazine-and the list goes on.
Throughout her career and beyond, she served with loyalty, honor and distinction, rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to all and everything she worked on. She governed with a keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems; she earned the admiration, esteem, respect and affection of her colleagues, friends and family. She led important offices and organizations, always bringing a clear vision, drive and arduous commitment for the people of New York, the Hispanic community, her beloved Bronx, all the while championing the way for the next generation of leaders.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at Holy Family Church, 2158 Watson Avenue (corner of Castle Hill Avenue,) Bronx, NY 10472. 718-863-9156.
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