Street renamed in honor of PTA mom and activist

Members of the Bensonhurst community gathered last month outside P.S. 204, the Vince Lombardi School, at 15th Avenue and 82nd Street to celebrate the life of Karen Barone, an avid member of her community, by naming the corner in her honor.

“The reason we rename streets in this city is because of people like Karen Barone,” Councilmember Vincent Gentile said.

The sign “Karen Barone Way” hangs on the street outside the school where she spent a great deal of her time as a class mom and PTA co- president, and as part of the PTA President’s Council.

“What better place in this community to commemorate Karen than right here outside the school Karen dedicated so much of her life to?” stressed Gentile.

Barone divvied up her time between advocating for the many schools in her community, volunteering her time as a Continuing Catholic Development teacher at St. Bernadette, and fundraising for the Lustgarten Foundation’s search for a cure for pancreatic cancer.

Three years ago, at the age of 50, Barone lost her battle with cancer. The bill to rename the street was introduced on September 21, 2012 and was passed early the following month. Barone’s now late husband, Joe, had pitched the idea to Gentile’s office.