She devoted her life to preserving the historic homes of Richmond Hill, and now her memory will live on in the community.
On Saturday, October 24, 109th Street, between 86th Street and Jamaica Avenue, was co-named in honor of the late Nancy Cataldi, who launched an unrelenting campaign to save Richmond Hill’s Victorian homes and maintain the character of her community.
“I look to Nancy for her leadership in curbing over-development and preserving the character of our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, who attended the ceremony, along with State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblymember Mike Miller, members of the Richmond Hill Historic Society and children of P.S. 66. “The community of people who have gathered for today’s street co-naming reflect the difference Nancy made for our neighborhood, for the borough and the City of New York.
Cataldi, who died at age 55 last November of a brain aneurysm and hemorrhage, was a founding member of the Richmond Hill Historic Society where she acted as President for over a decade.
"Nancy Cataldi was not just the brains of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, she was its heart and soul,” said Joseph DeMay, Vice President of the Richmond Hill Historical Society.
Cataldi is famous for formulating the proposed landmark historic district of Richmond Hill and for creating the Richmond Hill Museum. In addition, Cataldi ran events celebrating the history of Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, and curated the Italian-American Museum in Little Italy. Right before her death, Cataldi was instrumental in saving the RKO Movie Theatre on Hillside Avenue and The Republican Club on Lefferts Boulevard.
Additionally, Cataldi teamed up with Richmond Hill Historian Carl Ballenas in 2002 to write a history book entitled Images of America: Richmond Hill. Working with Arcadia Publishing, they gathered many vintage postcards and newspaper articles. The book walks the reader through the evolution of Richmond Hill after the Civil War and contains over 200 photographs.
Cataldi settled in Richmond Hill in 1963 and was a photographer by trade, starting as the photographer for the New York Rangers Hockey team and having many of her photographs appear in prestigious magazines.
In 1994, with boyfriend Stefano Palo, she purchased a 1905 Victorian House in Richmond Hill at 86-22 109th Street. She marveled at its romantic and historic allure and developed a deep interest in the neighborhood. The house was tenderly restored and refurbished. Through research, she learned that the house was designed by noted Richmond Hill architect Henry E. Haugaard. In 1996 with the help of Dr. Stanley Cogan, Queens Borough Historian, her house received one of the first Queensmark awards for historical, architectural and cultural merit.
