Bayside Historical Society Honors Padavan

This year's annual holiday party at the Bayside Historical Society's Fort Totten headquarters was a bittersweet affair, marking another year of growth and the departure of one of its most active sponsors.

An overflowing crowd packed the ballroom of the former Army Officer's Club on Sunday for the traditional dinner, dancing and singing of carols, but also for a musical and spoken tribute to state Senator Frank Padavan, R-Bellerose.

The assemblage also offered a toast to the late Tom Gaines, a noted architect, trustee of the society and "treasured friend" who passed away earlier this year.

To kick-off the tribute, chanteuse Alexandria Dunne, who is a P.S. 31 music teacher and historical society board member, belted out a musical tribute to Padavan. No stranger to packed houses, Dunne has performed the ational anthem at a New York Mets game.

Padavan, who will leave the Senate at the end of the month following 38 years in office, was a colonel in the Army Reserve and a member of the panel that participated in the transfer of the Civil War era fort to the city.

"It was then that I conned the historical society into becoming the tenant of this building," he said to the assemblage.

Over the years, Padavan allocated significant funding for the renovation of the structure known as "The Castle" and even donated his own baby grand piano, which graces the ballroom today.

Several times during the evening, including after Dunne's performance and awards, Padavan received a standing ovation from the party's 200 attendees.

As one of the longest-serving members of the Senate, Padavan established a reputation for delivering to community groups. He secured the Glen Oaks school campus bearing his name for the city as well as sponsored numerous Little League teams.

In addition to the Bayside Historical Society, officials from the Alley Pond Environmental Center in Douglaston and the Poppenhusen Institute in College Point presented Padavan with "Thank You" awards for his longtime support.

Remaining composed, Padavan barely betrayed a wistful hint when he promised, "I will continue to support the Bayside Historical Society and all its good work."