Annual South Queens Democratic Club Dinner Dance honors five

South Queens civic leaders, politicians and Democratic Party supporters gathered at Russo’s by the Bay Wednesday, October 17 to dance, eat, and raise money for the South Queens Democratic Club.
Councilmembers Eric Gioia and Joe Addabbo and Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer were among the many well-known local leaders who joined Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio at the famous catering hall for the 41st Annual South Queens Democratic Club Dinner Dance.
“The Democratic Club is a club that acts more like a civic group,” said Pheffer. “Their main goal is to make sure they advocate for the community and honor community members who have gone above the call of duty.”
Five such citizens were honored this year, including Sgt. Sean McCabe, the Howard Beach native, volunteer fireman and Community Board 10 member who returned this month after a year serving his country in Iraq.
“We’re glad to have him back,” said Pheffer. “He’s a special kid.”
McCabe said he was deeply honored by the recognition, but called the attention “overwhelming.”
“People throw the word ‘hero’ around,” he said. “I’m getting thank yous from World War II vets and Vietnam vets…they can’t be thanking me. It should be the other way around.”
Also honored was Debbie Egel, a nurse who has devoted her life to lobbying in Albany for workers’ rights. Raised in Ridgewood, Egel graduated from Queens Community College, where she got her Associates’ Degree in Nursing, then went on to earn her law degree.
Tom Rowland, President of Howard Beach’s Our Lady of Grace School Board, was honored for his community service work, which includes membership with the Knights of Columbus and his role as Secretary-Treasurer for the Amalgamated Workers Union, Local 88, of the Retail Wholesale Department Workers Union and the 1.4 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers union.
Rowland said his community service comes from a desire to maintain a healthy community in which to raise his daughter.
“I’m a third-generation Howard Beach resident, and I want to keep the environment the same as when I was growing up,” he said.
Ozone Park native Sam Dominick, a longtime youth sports coach, referee, and Howard Beach Kiwanis Club member, and Angelo Mugnolo, owner of Sapienza Bagels on Cross Bay Boulevard and founder of the Queens Chapter of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, rounded out the evening’s honorees.
“This year, the general theme was ‘Serving the Greater Good,’” said Gulluscio. “We select honorees based on their participation in the ‘body politic,’ which all of us are a part of, no matter our party affiliation.”
Those who attended the event said they supported the South Queens Democratic Club not because of partisanship, but due to a general respect for Gulluscio and the work of the club.
“I’ve always enjoyed the speakers [Gulluscio] has brought in,” said Pete Marino of the Howard Beach Civic Forum. “It’s not really a partisan thing.”
“The club is made up of wonderful, warm, caring individuals,” said attendee Barbara Friedman. “Their actions stand behind their words.”