Appointed copresident of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington within months of joining the board, Dan Donatelli has made an immeasurable mark on the organization and the entire Port Washington peninsula.
After 20 years on the Residents board, Donatelli is stepping down as he assumes his new responsibilities on the Town of North Hempstead’s Board of Zoning & Appeals (BZA).
Laurie Courage, who has served as Residents’ vice president of Environmental Education since 2012, will succeed Donatelli as Residents copresident. Curt Trinko and Rick Krainin will continue to serve as chairman and copresident, respectively.
“Residents has truly been honored by Dan’s 20 years of service. We greatly appreciate his exceptional and unwavering level of dedication over such a long period of time,” Trinko said. “We wish him well on his new position on the town’s BZA.”
During his nearly 20-year tenure as copresident of Residents, Donatelli has consistently proven to be a natural leader who inspires bold thinking and grounds decision-
making in knowledge and facts. He is also a great moderator and visionary planner who is very passionate about Port Washington.
“I am so very proud and honored to have served as copresident for a ‘More Beautiful Port Washington.’ It is truly a remarkable organization, protecting our environment and the quality of life on this wonderful peninsula we call home,” Donatelli added.
“As I begin a new chapter in my life with the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals, I know that I am leaving Residents in the capable hands of Curt Trinko, chairman, Rick Krainin, copresident, and new copresident, Laurie Courage,” continued Donatelli.
Just a few key Residents projects in which Donatelli played an instrumental role over the years have been the Bay Walk, North Hempstead Beach Park Shoreline Trail, Model Blocks and Cinema on the Bay.
“Dan’s 20-year legacy as copresident is beyond words,” Residents executive director Mindy Germain said.
“The most important thing I learned from Dan, which he echoed countless times, is that ‘you have to have a plan, but what makes the real difference is having courage in your convictions,” concluded Germain.
Over the past four years as a Residents board member, Courage has consistently demonstrated outstanding management qualities as a goal-oriented and thoughtful planner, according to Krainin.
“Laurie is a great team builder who is tenacious about ensuring projects are completed as optimally as possible,” Krainin said, adding that, “I’m looking forward to working closely with her on the exciting projects Residents has planned well into the future.”
Her passion for sustainability has fueled her devotion to programs that provide Port Washington students with the knowledge and attitudes to shape a more sustainable future. These include: Environmental Passport Program, Get Your Green On Campaign, Trash Talkin’ Exhibit at Bay Walk, North Hempstead Beach Park Shoreline Trail Walks and overall sustainability planning on the peninsula.
For information about Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington, call 516-767-9151 or visit www.pwresidents.org.
