East Meadow Chamber of Commerce spotlights its members at 65th installation

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The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce hosted a night of sharing memories and touting the successes of its members during its 65th Annual Installation of Officers and Board of Directors on Jan. 23 at Westbury Manor in Westbury.

Michael Levy was installed for a second term as president, Walter Skinner was awarded the chamber’s Dave Rothbaum Silver Fox Award and Debbie Kirsch was recognized with the Marvin Bernstein Humanitarian Award.

As a surprise, Treasurer Mitchell Allen presented Frank Camarano with a framed copy of an article published on Dec. 26 in the East Meadow Herald, which named him its 2019 Person of the Year.

Richie Krug Jr. received the President Michael Levy’s Right Hand Man Award and James P. Skinner earned the Board Member of the Year Award as presented by his father Jim Skinner.

Closing the awards ceremony, Millie Jones was named the posthumous winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and Dolores Rome presented it to her family husband David and her children Cassie and Matthew.

“Through her actions, she also taught us to be strong, giving, loving and full of grace,” Rome said of her close friend.

Millie Jones, of East Meadow, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 50, roughly 13 years ago. She underwent chemotherapy and additional treatments, had a double mastectomy and took medication for five years when she went into remission.

Then, in March 2017, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After two months, it developed into a Stage IV illness and spread to her liver. Her condition worsened over the summer, developing into an infection.

Jones died on Sept. 23 at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia, surrounded by friends and family who sang her favorite songs and shared stories with her in her last moments. She was 63.

Jones philanthropy was seen throughout her life. She worked with the Girl Scouts of America, Make a Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society and East Meadow Kiwanis.

Jones was the president of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and was a member of over 15 years who took part in many of its community engagement programs. She earned the Town of Hempstead Pathfinder Award in 2018, received the chamber’s David Rothbaum Silver Fox Award, was named a Nassau County Trailblazer and was voted a Nassau County Woman of Distinction in 2013.

Throughout the night, Chamber members shared stories about Millie Jones and the positive impact she had on them.

After the award ceremony, Frank Camarano, who served as president in 2017 and 2018, introduced Michael Levy for his second term as president and said his job was not so simple. “Let’s face it, he came after me,” Camarano said, drawing laughs from the crowd before adding, “and he had to set us up for our future.”