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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

AT THE SURPRISE announcement for the next Merrick Man of the Year Lenny Heide are (from left) Nicole Hollings, Douglas Smestad, Phyllis Guttilla, Lenny Heide, Scott Briones, David Seinfeld, Carlo Conte, Emily Paluseo and Bob Henry. Merrick Life photo by Chris McBride

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce, Merrick Life and former honorees have elected Lenny Heide and Erin Donohue as Merrick’s Man and Woman of the Year to be honored at the annual Merrick Chamber of Commerce Installation of Officers, Thursday, January 27, at the Chateau Briand.

Man of the year

 Lenny Heide

Mr. Heide was nominated by Arlene Gregory, president of the Merrick Kiwanis Club, because the chief custodian at Calhoun High School “has taken personal time to help during our annual pancake breakfast, as well as our annual distribution of food and toys in December and our spring food drive in April.” 

She added that he came up with the idea to have the special needs students sort all the food, a job in which they have taken great satisfaction and pride.

Also, “he works tirelessly to keep our school in top condition, and takes a personal interest in many of the students he encounters. He loves the Merrick community and was recognized for his holiday light display last year.” 

And, finally, “he helps in any way he can to improve the lives of those in need, and demonstrates the ability that everyone has to make a difference.”

Calhoun Principal David Seinfeld added that Mr. Heide “uses his job as an avenue to help others,” as in helping with the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, and plans to build a greenhouse with life skills students.

Others who seconded the notion include Anne Burke, thankful for his help with providing many venues for practice for the annual Merrick Brotherhood Concert, and  this year’s Woman of the Year Phyllis Guttilla, grateful for his support of music boosters. She arranged a surprise announcement of the award at Calhoun yesterday.

Woman of the year

 Erin Donohue

Erin Donohue was nominated by local business owner Rebecca Braunstein of LOL  Trends because “she is more than good; she is special,” and being a  special human being is more important even than her professional achievements. Mrs. Donohue is a member of the board of directors of the Historical Society  of the Merricks, the Nassau County PAL Special Needs Unit and the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, and owner of Hucreative Services, a design company with clients including the Merrick Library and Merrick Chamber of Commerce newsletters and a variety of local small businesses. 

She recently was named  communications director for Camp Frontline, a security firm that  specializes in counterterrorism technology.

She  is also webmaster and former assistant editor of Merrick Life, where  she has performed many acts of community service through the  newspaper. In one case, she brought together a young widower with small children, whose house had been left half-finished, with a contractor willing to donate the work and supplies.

The local American Legion recently honored her for helping publicize the post’s work helping veterans.  She has supported numerous local fundraisers, and helped raise awareness of the need for a kidney donor for Merrick resident Alice Dillon.  

Two of her children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and benefited from early intervention, which resulted in them being able  to join their peers in the regular classroom, and even excel and win  awards. 

She became a strong advocate for all children with autism,  promoting fundraisers and lobbying for expanding the silver alert warning system and Nassau County’s REACH program regarding disabled missing persons to include autism.

A member of Curé of Ars  parish, where she volunteers as a catechist, she is married to William,  a lifelong Merokian and New York City police detective, who is also a  member of the elite Emerald Society Pipes and Drum. They have three sons attending local schools, Willie, Jimmy and Tommy.