Gentile Renames Street After Community Leader Karen Barone

Photo Courtesy Of Justin Brannan
Photo Courtesy Of Justin Brannan

Nearly 150 people gathered outside P.S. 204, the Vince Lombardi School, to honor the life of Karen Barone, a indefatigable community advocate who spent countless hours fighting to improve schools in the district and raising money to help the less fortunate. In honor of her efforts, Councilman Vincent Gentile renamed 82nd Street and 15th Avenue “Karen Barone Way.”

A proud mother, Barone was a PTA co-president and a member of the PTA President’s Council. She also volunteered as a Continuing Catholic Development teacher at St. Bernadette. She raised over $30,000 for the Lustgarten Foundation to help find a cure for pancreatic cancer and she also found time to raise money to feed the homeless.

“The reason we rename streets in this city is because of people like Karen Barone,” Gentile said. “Because the impact Karen’s life had on the lives of others will live on forever. And what better place in this community to commemorate Karen than right here outside the school Karen dedicated so much of her life to: P.S. 204, the Vince Lombardi School.”

To learn more and help fight pancreatic cancer, you can visit the Lustgarten Foundation by clicking here.