To get to Lynbrook High School students, residents and visitors will soon have to travel down "Dr. Barbarino Way."
During its October meeting, the Lynbrook village board announced that it had voted to re-name Roosevelt Street in honor of Dr. Santo Barbarino, the beloved superintendent of schools who died suddenly in late August when he suffered a heart attack.
"Every time you come to the high school you can see this sign," Lynbrook Mayor William Hendrick explained Monday night as he displayed it to Dr. B's family members, school and village officials, and other community members who filled Village Hall for the presentation.
Dr. Barbarino's 95-year-old mother, Santa, was overcome with emotion as she held the sign while her family received a standing ovation from the crowd, but she managed to say "Thank you."
His sister, Grace Shelley, added, "Thank you for loving my brother."
Reflecting on Dr. Barbarino, who lived in the village and devoted much of his life to the schools and the community at large, Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony Santino said, "Lynbrook was in his heart and soul, and his heart and soul will always be in Lynbrook."
Santino commended the board for creating this lasting tribute to Dr. B.
"[It's] the right thing to do," he said. "There's no way to ever replace Dr. Barbarino, but at least for generations to come everyone, every time they go to the high school, they'll know something about this wonderful man."
The village expects to have the new signage in place on Roosevelt Street later this week. Last month, the Lynbrook Teachers Association also announced that it had established a scholarship fund in Dr. Barbarino’s name. Click here for that story.
What do you think of the village's tribute to Dr. Barbarino?
