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Town Dedicates Housing Community to Roberta Nixon

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Collin Nash or Sid Nathan
October 8, 2008                                                                                  (516) 869 7794

Town Dedicates Housing Community to Roberta Nixon

Port Washington, NY Paying tribute to a life defined by community activism, tenacity and passion, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board, honored the late Roberta Nixon, on October 8, at the official dedication of the Roberta Nixon Houses at Harbor Homes Community.

Flanked by family and friends of Nixon, Supervisor Kaiman and other dignitaries paid recognition to Nixon’s tireless determination and foresight, and noted that without her, the Port Washington community would not have developed into the residential haven it is today.

“We live through the legacy she created,” said Supervisor Kaiman. “Roberta Nixon was far from another ordinary individual. She truly made the Port Washington community a better place live. Harbor Homes is appropriately named the Roberta Nixon Houses.”

After displaying an uncanny passion for community advocacy spanning more than 40 years, Roberta Nixon passed away one year ago, on October 4, 2007. Harbor Homes, a 66 unit, newly renovated housing community in Port Washington bears Nixon’s name and was the setting for the ceremony.

Councilman Fred Pollack, representing Port Washington, worked alongside Nixon on many initiatives in the past. “Roberta believed so passionately in the potential of Port Washington,” stated Councilman Pollack. “We ought to commit ourselves to the fights and battles Roberta waged.”

Honoring the personal side of Roberta Nixon were several members of her family, including her daughter Vivian Nixon who commented, “What many people may not know, is that she was a deeply spiritual and forgiving person, who loved god, loved her church, loved her community, and loved her people.”

Members of Nixon’s 1955 Paul D. Schreiber High School class also attended the ceremony, prompting Supervisor Kaiman to state, “It says a lot about you, when your classmates come out to honor you fifty years after you graduated.”

L to R (Front Row) Community Activist Shirley Siegal, Councilman Pollack, Councilwoman Maria-Christina Poons, Senator Craig Johnson, Legislator Wayne Wink, Supervisor Kaiman, William Nixon (Nixon’s Son), Vivian Nixon (Nixon’s Daughter), Llewellyn Simpkins (Nixon’s sister), Judith Nixon (Roberta’s daughter), Fredrick Biddle Jr. (Roberta’s brother)

L to R (Middle Row) Officer Dwayne McCurty of Port Washington Police, Douglas Mayer, President of Freeport NAACP Branch, Dolores Holliday, Resident of Robert Nixon Housing Community, Wandell Thomas, Resident of Cowbay and Local Crossing Guard, Rev. Benjamin Hill, Pastor Mt. Olive AME Church

L to R (Last row) Members of Roberta Nixon’s 1955 Paul D. Schreiber High School class.

Picture of the recently constructed Roberta Nixon Houses at Harbor Homes Community.

Councilman Pollack speaks to working alongside Roberta Nixon and the impact she had on the Port Washington community.

Members of Roberta Nixon’s 1955 Paul D. Schreiber High School class.

William Nixon, Roberta Nixon’s son, comments on his mother’s belief that “people deserve to live in dignity.”

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