By Gabrielle Prusak
Beloved Bellerose civic leader Rose Daddario, 98, died July 9.
Jerry Wind, president of the Bellerose Hillside Civic Association, remembered her as his mentor for 30 years.
“I saw her and worked with her on many different levels,” Wind said. “She helped me when I was appointed to the community board, she showed me the road, so to speak.”
Wind was encouraged by Daddario as she helped him get more involved in the community.
“When Rose told you to do something, you did it,” said Wind, “even though she was small in stature.”
According to a statement the Creedmoor Civic Association posted on its website, Daddario “became active in the Creedmoor Civic Association right away and became the secretary before serving as president from 1988 through 1999.”
One of the big projects that Daddario is known for is the formation of the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park. According to Wind, she was all for the Queens Farm formation and is one of the reasons why it is there today.
Over the years, Daddario had been awarded many awards. At her wake, the awards were all over the room from a state Senate resolution from former Sen. Frank Padavan to achievements awards from the community board for longevity. The room was a testimony to how much of a difference she made in the community.
At the end of her life, Daddario was still involved in the community but, according to Wind, she was having some health issues which slowed her down.
“She lived a full life,” Wind said. “She was a wonderful woman. Thank God she had her faculties right at the end. I just hope I could go out that way.”
“She will be missed,” the Creedmore Civic Association said.
Daddario and her late husband moved to 240th Street in 1954, fixed up their house and raised their family there.
Daddario has three children: sons Louis and Robert and daughter Theresa Wright along with eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Queens County Farm Museum at queensfarm.org.
