Generally Speaking: Brooklyn Cathedral Club installs new president

The Cathedral Club of Brooklyn held their annual Installation Dinner at Gargiulo’s in Coney Island.  New York State Supreme Court Justice Vito DeStefano installed attorney Mark Cipolla, the group’s former Vice President as President of the Catholic lay organization that was founded in 1900. Cipolla succeeded Vincent LeVien, Director of External Affairs for the DeSales Media Group.  Other officers serving on the 2016-17 Board include Vice President Antonio Biondi, Financial Secretary Judge Patricia DiMango, Treasurer Attorney Marianne Bertuna, and Recording Secretary Brian Long.

The Club’s Board of Governors which includes several past presidents are Chris Hannan, Martin Cottingham, Craig Eaton, John Gilhooly, Senator Marty Golden, Robert Charles Golden, Joseph Guarinello, William Guarinello, Frank Keating Michael Long, James McHugh, Michael Perrette, George Prezioso and Richard Re.  Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who heads the Brooklyn Catholic Diocese is the Club’s Spiritual Director.

* * *Tom McGann, President of the Polar Bear Club was the guest speaker at the June monthly meeting of the Bay Ridge Historical Society.  McGann, a long time former Bay Ridge resident mentioned in addition to their highly publicized New Year’s Day swims at Coney Island, members do weekly Sunday plunges from the beach in front of the New York Aquarium.  He mentioned the club was founded by Bernarr Macfadden, the famous body builder, health advocate and world renown magazine publisher.

One of the longtime Polar Club members is Community Board Ten member and past BRHS First Vice President Larry Stelter.  Society President Tom McCarthy told us he joined the hundreds of men and women who took the New Year’s dip into the frigid brine.

* * *The Bay Ridge Inter-Agency Council on Aging held their annual breakfast meeting at Dyker Heights’ Venus Restaurant on 86th Street.  Council chair is Susan Lavin.

* * *Patriotism is still alive!  Come see Brooklyn’s 111^th annual American Independence Day Parade, celebrating the 240^th Birthday of America, on Sunday, June 26, at 12 noon, stepping off  from Court and Bergen Streets.