Christopher Alessandro, Silvio Mazzella, Congressman Eliot Engel, Honoree Joe DeSimone, Honoree Rosemary Mercora, Al D’Angelo, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Frank Agovino, and Carmine Torchetti. Photo by Robert Press.
By Robert Press
It was a joyous night at Marina Del Rey for the 45th Annual Morris Park Community Association Dinner Dance last Saturday night. MPCA President Al D’Angelo welcomed everyone speaking of the Morris Park community, and working with surrounding communities to make the Bronx a better place to live and work in.
Morris Park Community Association Executive Board. (L – R) Secretary Silvio Mazzella, Treasurer Christopher Alessandro, President Al D’Angelo, 1st Vice-President Frank Agovino, and 2nd Vice-President Carmine Torchetti. Photo: Robert Press.
While the sadness in MPCA Presiden D’Angelo’s voice was noticed by many when he announced that two longtime elected officials and supporters of the MPCA, popular former Congressman Joe Crowley and ex-State Senator Jeff Klein would not be attending since both were defeated in last year’s Democratic primaries. He announced that Congressman Eliot Engel, who once represented the Morris Park area, was in attendance along with Councilman Mark Gjonaj. After reading off a list of representatives of the City Comptroller, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., other Bronx elected officials, and community leaders from other neighborhoods, he called up and introduced the Executive Board of the MPCA. Congressman Engel and Councilman Gjonaj said a few words afterwards.
Congressman Eliot Engel addresses the gathering at the 45th annual MPCA dinner dance. Photo: Robert Press.
The first honoree was Mr. Joe DeSimone who was introduced as a lifelong Bronxite, Little League baseball coach, JV football coach, and volunteer to the community.
The second honoree was Ms. Rosemary Mercora who was introduced as a product of the local Catholic schools to return to the area to teach at PS 83 where she has taught for the past eighteen years. Ms. Mercora is also the President of the Forum of Italian American Educators (F.I.A.M.E.).
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