By Patrick Donachie
A stretch of 147th Street between Rockaway Boulevard and 123rd Avenue will be renamed “Anthony Mason Way” in honor of the late New York Knicks forward. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday and elected officials and members of the Mason family were expected to attend.
Mason grew up in southeastern Queens and attended Springfield Gardens High School, helping to lead the school’s basketball team to the 1983 Public School Athletic League boys’ basketball city title. He later played 13 seasons in the NBA and was a member of the New York Knicks from 1991 to 1996, averaging 9.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his years with the team.
After his NBA career, he was often seen around town in the southeastern Queens area, from stopping in at Proper Cafe on Linden Boulevard to getting haircuts at a barbershop on Parsons Boulevard. Mason died on Feb. 28, 2015 at the age of 48 after suffering congestive heart failure. His funeral service was held at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral on Merrick Boulevard on March 6, 2015.
Earlier this year, the City Council approved the renaming as part of a package of street re-namings throughout the city. The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Attendees will include Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and state Assemblywoman Vivian E. Cook (D-Jamaica).
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
