By Bill Parry
Several hundred Woodside residents and community leaders from all over western Queens filed into St. Sebastian’s Roman Catholic Church Saturday to say goodbye to 90-year-old Al Volpe. The longtime member of Community Board 2 and a board member of Woodside on the Move, Volpe always studied the issues and was well informed, according to his friend Joe Conley.
“He was truly one of a kind and he’ll be sorely missed in this community,” Conley said. “He was a champion of so many issues in the community. He fought for a traffic light at 51st and Skillman Avenue. For years the DOT said no but he got it.”
City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) was saddened to learn Volpe had died. The two became friends during the four years Van Bramer was a member of CB2.
“Few people cared as much about Woodside for as long as Al did,” Van Bramer said. ““While we didn’t always agree, I know he wanted what was best for our neighborhood. He cared about quality-of- life issues and loved promoting local restaurants and businesses. He loved Woodside so very much.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
