NYC Police Commissioner James O'Neill at the 76th Precinct
Maria Gambardella at her surprise retirement party
The 76th Police Precinct in Carroll Gardens gave its beloved receptionist Maria Gambardella quite a surprise retirement party yesterday. Gambardella, a resident of First Place, is a legend not only at the precinct, but also in the community. She is retiring at the age of 88, after 47 years of service.
It was an impressive send-off. Police Commissioner James O'Neill and First Deputy Ben Tucker stopped by bearing gifts to mark the occasion. A steady stream of Captains and officers who served at the Precinct over the years also attended and congratulated "the Legend." Outside, neighbors were waiting for Gambardella to be whisked away from the Precinct for the last time in a police cruiser in the traditional "walk-out".
Gambardella came to the 76th Precinct as a Police Administrative Aide back in 1971. As such, she was a friendly face from the community welcoming everyone who entered the station house. Her effect on everyone was immediate. "No matter how agitated you felt walking into the station, you were calm, cool and collected when you walked out after talking to Maria!," a local resident, who attended the party, told us. 'When she started here, police cars were still black and white," he added with a smile.
Another local resident, who watched the festivities from his stoop across the street, said: "I was a kid when she started working here."
Congratulations, Maria! Thank you for your many years of service! We hope you will enjoy your retirement for many years to come.
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1 comment:
so that's why i heard bagpipes and a large crowd of people clapping and cheering outside my window on union street. until your post, i had no idea where the sounds were coming from. i thought it might have been a celebration for the shanghainese soup dumpling spot our neighborhood so desperately needs but that it was a retirement party from the police station is fair enough.
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