For over 20 years, Simanowitz unassumingly advocated for the people and Torah values he held dear, and was the standard in leadership statewide.
Since late 2017, the northeastern corner of Main Street and 75th Avenue has been known as the home of Simcha Palace. At the start of that year, it was Svet Sarah, and not long before that, famously Dougie’s. I will let our Your Say section fill in the rest of its history.
But as of this past Sunday morning, after a moving street-naming ceremony, residents of Kew Gardens Hills can look up at the intersection and see the sign reading “Michael Simanowitz Way,” a small tribute paying homage to the selfless, quick-witted public servant who served his constituents with dedication and humor in Assembly District 27 for just shy of six years.
Simanowitz loved most to advocate for his individual constituents. In an age of rising anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, BDS, and terrorism against Jews, Simanowitz rose as an eloquent yet authoritative spokesman for his people, who commanded respect despite the relatively low profile he kept as a junior in the Assembly.
Michael Simanowitz, or “Mikey,” as he was affectionately known, passed away aged 46 on the Shabbos of September 2, 2017. The following week, at the Community Board 8 board meeting, Chairperson Martha Taylor related how Simanowitz lived true to his name, always shining a light no matter the situation. “We shared a love for our home borough of Queens,” stated Andrew M. Cuomo, New York’s governor at the time, adding, “and a belief in public service as a vehicle for positive change.” Despite becoming Chairman of the Assembly Majority Conference, honorifics were of little meaning to the ultimate mentch, who respected both sides of the political aisle and shined as he cut red tape to make things happen long before colleagues, especially those of importance to Torah Jews.
Prior to his rise into public service, Simanowitz served as the Commanding Officer for the 107th Auxiliary Police Unit for nine years, earning the rank of Auxiliary Deputy Inspector, one of the youngest to receive the title. As an auxiliary officer, he helped in the rescue efforts following 9/11, as well as during the Northeast Blackout of August 2003. (Simanowitz’s cause of death, a cancer possibly stemming from his 9/11 rescue efforts, was widely kept out of the media. NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. joined with his Senate colleagues to pass legislation (S.7428) aiding Simanowitz’s wife Jennifer on behalf of their four children with the remainder of his annual legislative salary.)
Simanowitz succeeded his longtime boss Nettie Mayersohn a”h, upon her retirement in 2011, for whom he served as chief of staff for 15 of her 28 years in office.
With Mayersohn, Simanowitz was vital in legislative initiatives that strengthened drunk driving laws, protected at-risk children and victims of rape, and developed a pilot program that established stroke centers in Queens and Brooklyn that expanded to 110 regional hospitals. “Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of compassion, Michael Simanowitz leaves behind a legacy that will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended,” said State Sen. Leroy Comrie, who was joined at Sunday’s ceremony by colleagues John Liu and Toby Ann Stavisky.
When Simanowitz won his Special Election in 2011, he began a precedent of filling the District 27 seat with a yarmulke he wore proudly – a role that was continued by Daniel Rosenthal (now vice president for Government Relations at UJA-Federation-NY), and currently by Assembly Member Sam Berger, who fulfilled his initial campaign promise of hosting a street co-naming ceremony honoring Simanowitz.
These three men would never have been able to realize their dream without the steadfast support Kew Gardens Hills’ own Shimi Pelman. Widely known as the neighborhood’s male District Leader, Pelman was Simanowitz’ confidant, serving as his campaign manager and treasurer, roles that strengthened their friendship. “That last summer week, I visited Mike,” reminisced Pelman to the QJL. “Mike was a man to look up to. He had a love for klal Yisrael, his family, and passionately took care of his community. He has been very much missed ever since.”
Queens DA Melinda Katz was Borough President when Simanowitz passed; the two shared a close bond. “It is a pleasure to be here as the borough’s District Attorney to see this honor bestowed upon such an incredible person,” she stated at the street-naming ceremony. “Michael cared deeply for his community and for the great State of New York. Generations will now see his name at the intersection of 75th Avenue and Main Street – a fitting tribute to his legacy built on his decades of service.”
“Michael was never afraid to do the right thing, even if the right thing was not politically advantageous,” explained Assemblymember Berger to the QJL. Berger very strongly believes that to build a brighter future, one needs to reflect on the lessons of yesteryear. Grasping that Simanowitz was a representative for his community and not his own self-gain is a lasting principle for anyone holding an influential position. “He left me with big shoes to fill, but a clear path forward.” Berger approached NYC Council Member James Gennaro with the co-naming idea. Gennaro, who was in his first stint as Council Member during Simanowitz’s tenure, remembered him as a “local legend.” Together they worked with family, NYPD, and government to see the motion through as it unanimously passed the Council Chambers and received Community Board 8 approval. “While his life was far too short,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. at the ceremony, “his legacy will live on for many years to come at the corner of Main Street and 75th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills, and across The World’s Borough.”
Mike’s son Josh now follows in his father’s footsteps as District Director for Assemblymember Berger in the office his father once held. He thanked those in government for attending. “You all meant an incredible amount to my father.” Rabbi Herschel Welcher, Rav of Cong. Ahavas Yisroel, also gave a kind epitaph of the yeshivah student advocate. Simanowitz saw how to prioritize community service in the home of his parents, Sherman and Sheila Simanowitz, and was the best of Queens, having lived in the borough his entire life. He always found favor in his alma mater as a proud 1993 Queens College alumnus, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In that respect, Frank H. Wu, President of the college, attended the ceremony, alongside Jeffrey Rosenstock, Assistant Vice President, Office of External & Governmental Relations, who helped co-organize logistics.
His compassion and tenacity were known to those in attendance, including Congress Member Grace Meng, Assembly Members Stacey Pheffer-Amato, and Charles D. Lavine of Nassau County’s District 13 and a longtime comrade of Simanowitz’s, as well as Borough Park and Midwood’s NYC Council Member Kalman Yeger, and former Assembly Member Michael Cusick, a staunch supporter of Agudah initiatives. The NYPD was present in a meaningful manner, taking on a significant role, and Queens Shmira was represented by Board Member Meshulam Lisker.
Former City Council Member Barry Grodenchik, President of QJCC and a co-worker from the Mayersohn days, led the unveiling as Gennaro and Simanowitz’s son Josh pulled the rope revealing the sign reading “Michael Simanowitz Way.” The Richmond Hill Block Association, Queens Jewish Historical Society, Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, 107 Precinct Community Council, and Harriet & Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Resource Center and Archives each recognized Simanowitz during his lifetime. Additionally, Simanowitz served on the Yeshiva of Central Queens’ Board, davened at the Young Israel of Forest Hills in his youth, and the Young Israel of Hillcrest with his family, and at Albany’s Cong. Beth Abraham-Jacob, where he regularly prayed with Sen. Simcha Felder at the 6:40 a.m. Shacharis minyan.
Mike is survived by his parents, brothers Barry and Alan, wife Yehudit, and children Yonatan (Josh), Elisheva, Racheli, and Max, and rests in Israel’s Beit Shemesh’s Eretz HaChaim Cemetery.
Yehi zichro baruch.
