This past February, Riis Settlement lost another great friend and champion, Elizabeth McQueen. Elizabeth served on the Riis Settlement Board of Directors for over twenty-two years and spent much of her life advocating on behalf of the residents of the Queensbridge community. Her tireless efforts led to numerous improvements in Queensbridge, both aesthetically and socially, and she will long be remembered for these contributions and much more.
Born on the 22nd of October, 1932, to Jessie Mitchell and Jack S. Long in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth attended school in Baltimore and later moved to New York City, where she worked for many years as a camera technician with Berkey Photo. Following retirement, Elizabeth turned her focus and energies to Queensbridge and became increasingly active in the community. At the age of 66, she founded Friends of Queensbridge Park, a group formed to revitalize a park that had languished in a state of dereliction for decades. She successfully lobbied local elected officials to restore the crumbling seawall – in turn restoring access to the waterfront – and she secured the ongoing corporate support of neighboring TransCanada to maintain the park’s aesthetic and host various annual community events such as the widely popular “Dancing under the Stars” night and the kid-favorite “Super Soaker” day. Throughout her years of advocacy, she worked with many prominent figures such as the former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Senator Michael Gianaris, and many others. She was recognized on multiple occasions for her efforts and received many awards and accolades – the most recent being the Martin Luther King Community Service Award for her many years of outstanding service as a stewardess of Queensbridge Park.
“My mother was a pillar of this community, helping the seniors, children and especially the Queensbridge park,” remarked Ms. Pamela Williams. Ms. Dorothy Grant, who served alongside Mrs. McQueen for many years as a voluntary arts & crafts instructor here at Riis Settlement, remembered her as “a creative spirit who donated her time, talents and materials to the community.”
Mrs. McQueen’s energy, enthusiasm, and passion were contagious. A motivational figure, she inspired many in the community to embrace her vision and join her as agents of change. She embodied the ideals of a good neighbor and friend and was truly admired by all here at Riis Settlement. She leaves behind a rich legacy of caring, advocacy, and action that will no doubt influence many in the community for years to come.
