Queens Community House
108-25 62nd Drive
Forest Hills NY 11375
Tel: 718.592.5757
Fax: 718.592.2933
info@queenscommunityhouse.org
donate

Upcoming QCH Events

rally.jpg
QCH Remembers Pat Dolan
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of longtime Queens Community House staff member Pat Dolan.   As Director of Queens Connection, Pat served as an advocate on transportation issues and a coordinator of intra-borough transportation for seniors.  While her work at QCH was with seniors, Pat was a staunch advocate for our youth.  She was instrumental in creating opportunities for and recognition of young people to be stewards and restorers of Flushing Meadow Corona Park.

“Whether soliciting youth input to community decisions, promoting libraries and education, she always looked out for young people. Her sharp observations, critical analysis and sense of humor will be sorely missed,” says Susan Matloff-Nieves, Associate Executive Director of Youth Services.

To elected officials far and wide, Pat was known as the gadfly to the borough for her advocacy efforts on behalf of seniors, youth, environmental protection, transportation improvements and equity, libraries, arts and cultural institutions, and numerous other issues.

“I considered her a mentor and felt honored that I could call her my friend.  Numerous Queens residents will identify her strength as her exceptional knowledge about the borough’s problems and needs and commitment to civic action.  It’s important to remember that Pat was a multi-dimensional human being with a love and appreciation for the arts and a devoted foodie,” according to Naomi Altman, QCH’s Associate Executive Director of Senior Services.

In the day since the shocking news of her death, QCH staff has recalled many memories about their experiences working with her and learning from her.

“I remember attending Pat Dolan’s “plant clinic.”  I brought in a snake plant that needed tlc.  She snipped off 4 tips (not the roots), got rid of the rest of the plant, put the tips into the soil, fed it some nutrients and told me to wait and see.  I watched this poor pathetic plant for about six months do absolutely nothing and then one day it came alive and these tips had made “babies.”  Well those babies are now four feet tall and there must be about 50 of them.  She was a good woman and she will be missed,” says QCH Fiscal Officer Joyce Seltzer.

At Queens Community House, where she worked tirelessly for the past 20 years, she will be missed most for her wit and sincerity.

 “I do remember her commitment to civic duty, her humor, her wisdom, her quirkiness, her cats.  But in short, Pat was the Steve Colbert of Queens Community House,” says Mary Abbate, Associate Executive Director of Community Services at QCH.

Pat's prominence in the borough was evident from the outpouring of stories about her in the media.

New York Times
NY Daily News
Forest Hills Patch
Queens Courier
Western Queens Gazette
Queens Chronicle
  end_para
qchgirls.jpg
jengaboys.jpg
dance.jpg