Mary Sarro Honored

Mary Sarro (c.) with association members and members of the board of directors of the North Queens Homeowners Civic Association. President Donna Raymond is at Sarro’s right shoulder.

On December 13 at the Lexington Center in Jackson Heights, the officers, directors and members of the North Queens Homeowners Civic Association, established in 1941, honored Mary Sarro, community activist, for dedicated service to the North Corona, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights neighborhoods.

The Sarro family moved to the Heights in 1952 and joined the North Queens Homeowners Civic Association soon thereafter. Mary’s uncle, Frank Pelligrino, was treasurer at the time.

After finishing her studies at New York University, Sarro served as volunteer secretary of Community Planning Board 3 from 1971 until 1977 when a Charter change created community boards. Helen Marshall, then a Board 3 member, urged Sarro to become district manager of Community Board 3 where she served from 1971 until 1996. Along with Helen Sears and Walter Marks, Sarro established the Catherine M. Sheridan Senior Citizen Center. With the same team of Sears, Marks and Martin Gallent, Sarro was instrumental in creating the 82nd Street Business Improvement District.

Sarro is a board member of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group, a member of the Jackson Heights Neighborhood Association, the United Community Civic Association, founder of SOC (Save Our Community) and Sergeant-At-Arms with the 115th Precinct Community Council.

Sarro cites as a career highpoint the establishment and dedication of the Pat Degnan 34th Avenue Mall, financed exclusively by then Borough President Claire Shulman. Among her other accomplishments are trees and boulders in Landing Lights Park, the creation of one-way streets to enhance traffic flow, installing additional traffic lights at dangerous intersections and the solution of the problem of homeless people under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

Sarro firmly believes that good works are always a collaboration generated by the community, civic action and elected officials, without which very little is accomplished. She credits the terrific staff at Community Board 3--Terry, Susan, Pat, Ed and Judy--for all they contributed during her tenure.

The North Queens Homeowners Association meets every second Wednesday at the Lexington Center at 8:30 p.m.