Sheepshead Bay civic gurus unanimously approved a street co-naming in honor of the late Lew Fidler, the area’s beloved former city councilman who died unexpectedly last year.
“No one was more devoted to this community,” said Community Board 15 Chairwoman Theresa Scavo. “Lew, who had personal health issues, never missed a meeting. Such a dedicated man.”
The civic panel gave their blessing for the co-naming at the intersection of Avenue R and Haring Street, which, if granted final approval by the city Council, would be known as “Lewis A. Fidler Way.”
Fidler, whose district spanned from Bergen Beach to Sheepshead Bay, was found unconscious in a Queens movie theater in May 2019 and died at Elmhurst Hospital two days later on May 7. The Daily News reported the cause of death as heart disease and bleeding in the brain.
Community board members only shared words of support for the initiative to honor the councilman, who they described as a dedicated servant to their community for decades.
“I don’t think I need to introduce Lew to anybody who is a member on Community Board 15,” said Rabbi Melvin Berg. “Besides his activities as district leader, besides as city council member, working for the borough president, he was president of the Hillel of Brooklyn College.”
The proposed co-naming — which would see Fidler’s name erected outside his former political organization, the 41st Assembly District Democratic Club — will likely see similar zeal from the City Council, according to the area’s current councilman, and Fidler’s immediate successor.
“I will certainly bring it to the City Council and I am sure without any doubt that it will pass,” Alan Maisel told Brooklyn Paper. “I have no doubt this is something that will be met with great enthusiasm.”
