Three cheers for Mafalda DiMango!
A longtime community activist, DiMango has stepped down from the Community Education Council (CEC) for School District 20, which includes Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton, Borough Park and part of Bensonhurst.
DiMango has spent more than 40 years advocating for local public schools and their students, previously as a school board member.
Several local elected officials and supporters gathered at last week’s CEC meeting to honor DiMango for her dedicated service to District 20.
State Senator Marty Golden credited DiMango with playing a key role in local schools’ improvement over the past four decades.
“We love you Mafalda,” he said. “Give us 10 Mafaldas in the community and you can change anything you want to change.”
City Council members Vincent Gentile and Domenic Recchia both offered warm stories of meeting DiMango when they were students at neighborhood elementary schools.
“We stand in awe,” Gentile said.
Laurie Windsor, president of the CEC, said DiMango’s commitment to serving her community should inspire others.
“She is a treasure. She is a role model,” Windsor gushed. “She is our matriarch.”
“I don’t know anyone who has her compassion and understanding of children,” said Community Superintendent Karina Costantino. “I don’t know how we are going to fill this void. We will never be able to replace you. We just won’t.”
The CEC was, in fact, unwilling to let DiMango go. Although she is no longer a council member, she will have a seat at the CEC’s table at all future meetings, Windsor said.
DiMango, who has previously won the Bay Ridge Community Council’s Woman of the Year award, seemed humbled by the kind words and well wishes. Clutching flowers and proclamations, she praised others for their hard work in District 20 schools.
“Thank you to all our parents who contributed so much as volunteers. I want to say a big thank you to all of them,” she said. “I want to say thank you to my family.”
“Hopefully I have made a difference,” she added. “I’ve enjoyed every minute.”
