STAR OF BROOKLYN: Fran Vella-Marrone

Fran Vella-Marrone: President of Dyker Heights CivicAssociation, and member of Community Board 10 and the InstitutionReview Board for Lutheran Medical Center

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Vella-Marrone was recently honored byDistrict Attorney Charles Hynes during Women’s History Month forher involvement with the community. The Dyker Heights resident hasdedicated the majority of her life to civic work. She serves onCommunity Board 10 — where she has been chairperson of the board’sEnvironmental Committee — and she is the long-time president ofthe Dyker Heights Civic Association and vice chairperson of theKings County Conservative Party. She also works with the MilitaryPackage Fund, which raises money to pay for packages to be sent toservice members overseas. Whatever we can do, even if it’ssomething small for the family, it’s a way to give back, shesaid.

PERSONAL: Vella-Marrone has been married to her husband, Gary,for 22 years, and is the stepmother to his three children. Myhusband is very supportive about me running around and doing allthese things, she said.

JOB: Vella-Marrone currently works as a paralegal for Connors& Sullivan, specializing in estate planning. Being a part of acompany like that is a good experience, she said. She handles thedetails that need to be taken care of after the death of a lovedone. ‘It’s a good feeling, knowing that you can take that burdenoff of them, she said about her work. At the end of April, shewill begin working with the New York State Senate Majorityoffice.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: For Vella-Marrone, the biggest challengewould have to be not having enough time, shuttling from meetingto meeting for all the associations she’s involved with, as well asspending time with her family, and working full time.

FAVORITE MEMORY: Vella-Marrone took a lead role in fighting theconstruction of a large shopping mall over the rail cut at 62ndStreet. We got a coalition of people together and got theattention of elected officials and stopped it. Hoping this projectdoesn’t come back any time soon, she considers this her biggestachievement and favorite memory.

INSPIRATION: If it’s affecting the community, if it’s affectingDyker Heights – I’m going to be involved, she said of her civicwork. Vella-Marrone gets a good feeling from helping others whodon’t have the resources or find themselves in a hard place -making it her inspiration to continue her civic work.