OUR 2022 PARADE HONOREES
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GRAND MARSHAL
Col. Fred W. Tanner
U.S. Army (Ret.)
Fred Tanner is a native of Brooklyn, NY and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York, College at Brockport in 1997. Upon graduation with a degree in Criminal Justice, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army as an Infantry Officer.
Colonel Tanner’s military assignments include leading at echelons ranging from 40 Soldier platoons to 1200 Soldier task forces. His operational experiences include deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Horn of Africa, and multiple tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His awards and decorations include multiple Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medals, the Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Army Commendation Medals, and the Army Achievement Medals. He has been awarded the Ranger Tab, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.
In December 2018, after rising to the rank of Colonel in the Army, he retired from military service to lead the NYPD’s newly created Office of Professional Development (OPD) responsible for preparing over 55,000 members of the service for greater responsibility.
In 2020, he left government service for the civilian sector and is currently pursing dual Master’s degrees in both Public and Business Administration from Columbia University.
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Woman of the Year
Carolyn Meenan
I have been a resident of Douglaston for 45 years with two adult children my husband Peter and one grandchild. My children attended St. Anastasia school and I have been a parishioner for 45 years. I am the past president of the Little Neck/Douglaston Lions Club and currently I sit on the board of the Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy. I taught CCD at St. Anastasia and I am currently a Eucharistic Minister there. When I was involved with the Lions Club I was instrumental in raising money for the Guide Dog Foundation which provide seeing eye dogs for the blind. My volunteering for the Bridge to Life in Flushing is also a very big cause of mine. In lieu of Christmas cards each year I donate to the Shriners Children's Hospital and St. Jude's. I am currently working for Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty but formerly I spent 29 years at Bryce Rea Associates. At the office, we were able to collect clothing and small household items for the needy as well as the Military Resilience Program. I am also a former board member of the Douglaston Country Club where I was helpful in the membership process. The Memorial Day Parade has always been the highlight of the community and I am very proud to be part of this event.
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Woman of the Year
Pattie Rifino
Pattie and her family have been residents of Douglaston for the past 24 years. As a longstanding Queens' native, Pattie is deeply connected to her Douglaston and Little neck community. Pattie takes great pride in supporting various organizations and charities, whether on an individual basis or part of a team.
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She has served on many local organizations, such as Douglaston/littleneck Lions Club —Vice Pres., PS 98 PTA- President, Douglaston Church Youth Team, Military Resilience Program.
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Pattie has been involved in the Real-estate industry for the pas 35 years. Her career has evolved from an agent, to a Broker, followed by office manager at Bryce Rea Realty, to her present position of asst. Sales Manager at Daniel Gale Sotheby's International realty. Her success and longevity in a competitive real estate market are largely attributable to her putting her client's goals and objectives first.
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Her integrity and work ethic are exemplary, seen by her ongoing devotion to her profession and her commitment to giving back. She works tirelessly to provide quality service to build relationships with her clients and colleagues.
Pattie ongoing project for 2019/20 has been quarterly cooking sessions at Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park with her colleagues from Daniel Gale Sotheby's Realty. She is also looking forward to a new adventure with "Helping Hands for the Disabled" organization.
Pattie is very proud to been asked to be the Women of the Year for the Memorial Day parade.
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Community Service Award
Victor Dadras, RA, NCARB, LEED-AP, EDAC, APA
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Victor Dadras is a Queens-born architect and urban designer; a father, husband and educator; and a passionate leader of the Northeast Queens communities he has called home for over 57 years. Fifty years ago, he proudly carried the American flag for the local Cub Scout troop, in this very same Memorial Day Parade.
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Victor is Vice-President of the Douglaston Local Development Corp. (DLDC), which he co-founded over 10 years ago with the goal of preserving the neighborhood character and revitalizing the businesses and civic life of the community. He also currently serves as both the 2nd Vice Chair of Community Board 11 and as Chair of its Transportation committee.
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Victor is also Vice-President of the Westmoreland Association (Little Neck), and has been a longtime board member of the Douglaston and Little Neck Historical Society, where he is currently Chair of the Architecture Committee. He also serves on the Douglas Manor Association’s (DMA) Property Committee, and his firm, Dadras Architects, is a member of the Douglaston Village Chamber of Commerce, which he helped to organize in 2009.
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In 2012, his firm prepared Douglaston’s Main Street Strategy and Strategic Action Plan, which has successfully served as the basis for the community's ongoing preservation and revitalization efforts. He is also a senior member of the historic Community Church of Douglaston.
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In previous years, Victor Dadras served as co-Presidnet of the PTSA of PS94; and also as a long-time baseball coach and team sponsor of the LM-Douglaston Youth Club, and the HBQVBAA.
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Victor grew up in Douglaston, lived in Douglas Manor for many years, and currently resides in Little Neck with his wife: Jean Koerber, a registered nurse at New York-Presbyterian/Queens, and their two adult children: Alexander and Ilana.
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Parade Marshall
Paul Cheng, JR.
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Paul is a retired Healthcare Administrator and Finance Administrator. He’s married to his lovely wife Sharon who is also retired from the NYS Courts as a Court Attorney and Special Referee. They’ve been married for almost 50 years. They have 3 daughters (Christine, Allison and Paula) and sons-in-laws and 3 granddaughters (Charlotte, Cadence and Victoria). Paul and Sharon live in Hollis Hills for over 35 years. Paul grew up in Chinatown and Sharon in the Bronx.
A graduate of Bayside High School ‘67’, Paul has several degrees from the University of Hartford, St. John’s University and CW Post College/Long Island University majoring in the fields of Healthcare Administration and Finance. In addition, he holds several Professional Certifications and University Adjunct Professorships and Fellowships.
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Paul’s career spanned several types of employers: Non-Profit and For-Profit Hospitals, Large Free Standing Not-For-Profit Clinics, Health Insurance Companies, Health Maintenance Organizations, and Large Medical Practices and the Government. Paul has been in senior management positions as Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Administrator, Assistant Controller. With the exception of his first employer he began as a file clerk at the Booth Memorial Medical Center (Salvation Army) right after being discharged from the Army, you had to start somewhere. The drive, discipline, teamwork, focus, leadership and thirst for knowledge he attributed to his military training. Paul’s wife Sharon made sure that he did not lose sight of what was needed for career and most of all, family.
He achieved the rank of Sargent (E-5) and earned several awards as a Combat Medic. Paul was last attached to: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment (Head Hunters), 1st Calvary Division, in Viet-Nam. Being a medic (call sign: Herbal Doc) strongly influenced his career choice. The VA Educational benefits truly assisted in his academic/career goals and priority placement in hiring with employers and with the government.
Paul currently does volunteer work for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of the NYC Emergency Management, Medical Reserve Corps of the NYS Department of Health. He is also a member of several Boards of Directors for Community, State and National organizations and agencies.
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The Army taught me to “Never Give Up.” To this day I never have.
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Man of the Year
Charly McBride
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Charles McBride is a retired decorated NYPD Police Officer with over 20 years of service to the Citizens of New York. Charly and his loving wife Nancy have been married for 42 years and have two fabulous children: Charles Philip (Chip), who is married to Samantha, and living in Denver, Colorado and James William (Jimmy) who is a Major in the USMC living in California. His first deployment was on the USS New York which was the ship’s first deployment.
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What makes Charles McBride special is that he goes above and beyond the call of duty to get things accomplished for the good of our communities.
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Charly (as he is called) has devoted his life to public service. He served as Vice President of the Little Neck Douglaston Lions Club for two years and as the President for 2 years from 1996 through 1998. He again served as President of the Lions Club from 2006 through 2012. During Charly’s tenure, he was instrumental in raising funds for the School for the Multiple Handicapped, PS 94, PS 98, and “Smart Hands Program” at the Queens Farm Museum. He was also instrumental in establishing the Lions Club Annual Charter Night Dinner Dance and Souvenir Journal. In 2008, Charly, as Zone Chair, organized an annual golf outing with three other clubs. The outings have raised $20,000, which has been donated to the Lions Eye Bank of North Shore Hospital and to Autism. Charly helped install a Lions highway sign on Northern Boulevard at the City Line. After Hurricane Sandy, Charly was responsible for the response of the Lions in Brooklyn and Queens during which he provided water, food, clothing and medical supplies throughout the two Boroughs and also assisted helping Nassau County. He organized the rebuilding of a Day Care Center in the Far Rockaways and a Food Pantry in Coney Island. He also physically worked with Habitat for Humanity at Breezy Point in rebuilding homes. Charly rose in Lions. He held the positions of Zone Chair, Region Chair, served on several committees in 2017 and was elected to the position of District Governor from 2017-2018 covering Brooklyn and Queens. As District Governor, he formed the Veterans Committee, providing toiletries and clothing for job interviews, Youth at Risk Mentoring, an anti-violence Program with Life Camp and the Lions Mile Health Walk.
Charly became heavily involved with “outside” Lion’s activities, such as the Boy Scouts of America, raising money for local area clubs, Jamboree’s, Flags, Banners to name a few. Charly is a past member of the Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committees, 1997–2001, having served for four years. In 1997, he was named “Man of the Year” of the Little Neck- Douglaston Memorial Parade. That year, he marched with his son Chip, who was named “Youth of the Year”. Charly has marched in the parade till 2013.
In March of 2014 with the Memorial Day Parade in peril. Charly and Douglas Montgomery stepped up to form the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Committee. Charly stated that they put together a great committee. Working together the committee put on a great parade that year and every year afterwards. Charly stepped down as Co-Chair of the Parade Committee in 2017 to serve on the Advisory Board.
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Man of the Year
Douglas Montgomery
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Douglas has been a long time supporter of Little Neck and Douglaston community events. Here is a short list of his many efforts:
Long Island Board of Realtors Community Service Award 2012
Lions Club Man of the year 2012
LN D Memorial Day Parade Chairman's Award 2008
Past Co Chair LND Memorial Day Parade, 5 years
Past President Douglaston Douglaston Garden Club, in the NYS Book of recognition for outstanding service to our community. First Male ever given this award.
Two year Vice President D G Club
Past Long Island Board of Realtors Professional Standards Committee Chair.
Past Long Island Board of Realtors Mediation Chair
Past Long Island Board of Realtors Arbitration Chair
22 year member of LIBOR Professional Standards Committee
12 years Community Board 11 Member, Past Chair of Libraries and Landmarks Committee
current Community Board 11 Chair of Douglaston Zoning
Member of Scottish American Society of NYC
5 year president of Garden Club, 2 year VP.
