(Photo) Family and Friends of Nina Cooley gather under the new street sign for Nina Cooley Way (Credit – Matt Meduri)
While small businesses and grassroots organizations are often considered backbones of any community, and rightfully so, the people who live in, serve, and bring the community together truly dictate its value.
Such a position was taken on Thursday afternoon, when the corner of Fawn Drive and Grenadier Lane in East Islip was renamed in posthumous recognition of a true community devotee: Nina Cooley.
Born in Brooklyn, Cooley married her husband Harold after he returned home from serving the U.S. in World War II and began their family in Levittown. She began her auxiliary membership with the AMVETS Post #44 in Hicksville. While married with three children in 1954, Cooley ran for AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary New York State Historian. After just one year in office, she then became the President of the New York State AMVETS Auxiliary Department, the youngest president in state history.
In 1960, Cooley and her husband became small business owners with Harold’s brother Larry and his wife Marge. They acquired the “Twins Inn” Bar and two-lane bowling alley in East Islip. It was at this time that the family finally settled in East Islip at 76 Fawn Drive.
It was while working at the inn that they developed their deep community ties, alongside their long-burning passion for Veterans’ services. They came up with an idea at the inn: buy a drink, sign the charter, and become a member of AMVETS. Thus, AMVETS Post #18 was born. The club was founded inside Twins Inn at 85 Division Avenue, and their membership quickly soared. Cooley later established the Ladies Auxiliary Post #18.
In 1965, Cooley became the first charter president with eighteen initial members. Post #18 would eventually find its home at 141 Carleton Avenue in East Islip, where Cooley would host bingo nights and serve rolls, bagels, pastries, and beverages for the Veterans. Post #18 would also notably serve as the site for the annual Memorial Day parade, where they would produce their own band and twirlers.
One of Cooley’s many grandchildren, Gary Bodenburg (pictured above), delivered the emotional and touching retrospective on her life.
“The story is, in fact, a testament to the American dream, commitment to country, community, and family that not only embodies the values of the town of Islip, but which are also entitled to the recognition and appreciation that it deserves,” said Bodenburg.
Bodenburg also spoke of Cooley’s devotion to the AMVETS’ program, Americanism, a program that offers schools and youth organizations education on American heritage, civics, and citizenship.
“This position was so important to Nina because her parents emphasized the significance of being an American and how important it was to their family growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s. However, Americanism started the moment her brother, Stevie, went to war and Nina wrote letters to him. She used that experience and the hope it provided to her brother during a tumultuous time and recreated those same experiences for thousands of American soldiers across the world. She would write these letters for over seventy years. Nina sent Christmas cards, care packages, and developed an unbelievable relationship with these soldiers.”
Bodenburg mentioned how Cooley was always sending care packages to Veterans, at least two or more per week throughout the year. Cooley was also recognized at the national level for her dedication to the armed forces.
“Many of the community Veteran connections you see now can be credited to the work that Nina has done,” said Bodenburg, discussing flag poster and essay contests in connection with the Post. Her regular sending of Christmas cards and care packages to soldiers developed relationships with them that Bodenburg described as “unbelievable.”
Cooley was also known for being a de facto grandmother of the neighborhood. In 1961, after Harold built their pool himself, it was the only pool on Fawn Drive, attracting kids from around the neighborhood. Summer Wednesdays would become known as “Gramsdays,” with her children bringing her grandchildren, to her great-grandchildren, to her great-great-grandchildren to the pool.
“The pool is still open today and every summer Wednesday will always be Gramsday,” said Bodenburg.
“Nina did what she loved and wanted nothing in return,” said Bodenburg. “She loved everyone for who they were, never judging, and always seeing the good in everyone. Her ideology never shifted, as she felt everything achieved was a team effort.”
Bodenburg invoked his grandmother’s saying that reflected her understanding of citizenship: “You see that apple on top of all those apples in that basket? It’s on top because the apples underneath are holding it up there.”
Nina had eight children, twenty-two grandchildren, thirty-six great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. Sadly, Cooley passed away on June 24 last year, but her memory is still held high among her family members, the community, and the countless soldiers and Veterans whose lives she touched.
“We all knew she had a heart of gold, and there was no better feeling in life than knowing you were loved by Nina. We have all been given an amazing gift of having Nina in our lives,” said Bodenburg. “Nothing will ever truly replace the presence of Nina. She has provided monumental services that will continue to reverberate throughout generations.”
Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) delivered remarks in honor of Cooley.
“If only everyone that comes by Nina Cooley Way would live their life that way, how much better we would all be,” said Carpenter. “She embodied the spirit of service, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to our nation’s Veterans and their families. Her tireless efforts extended far beyond her official duties, as she worked to support Veterans and their families in countless ways. It’s with great pride and honor that we symbolically rename the intersection of Fawn Drive and Grenadier Lane as Nina Cooley Way, ensuring that her memory and service will forever be remembered by our community. As you pass by Nina Cooley Way, may you be inspired by her lifelong dedication to serving others and the sentiment that so guided her life. One one heart, one hand, one nation evermore.”
Bodenburg thanked Islip Tax Receiver Andy Wittman (R-Sayville), also a family friend, for his help in guiding the family through the process of renaming the intersection after their beloved matriarch.
Barbara Chapman (pictured above), President of the New York Ladies Auxiliary, also paid tribute to Cooley.
“We all loved Nina so much. Nina got her whole family involved with AMVETS and fell in love with working for her Veterans and the East Islip community,” said Chapman. “I don’t think there is enough to be said about Nina in regard to family and the AMVETS, which was definitely her second family.”
Chapman said Cooley’s bread and butter was her Christmas cards, ensuring that AMVETS had thousands each year, with one year registering four thousands cards. Chapman said that Cooley was known to buy out the local dollar stores of all their boxed cards if necessary.
Bodenburg closed the remarks by mentioning a fabled “book” that Cooley always said she had to mark down certain events and dates. While the family was somewhat skeptical of the existence of such a book, a physical book was discovered less than a year ago.
“It was astounding the documents she kept and the events she archived as she hand-wrote all of what was documented,” said Bodenburg. “It recounted events, great memories, and the individual journeys of each of her children and future generations. But how fitting; we are here today collectively writing another chapter in her book. This title: Nina Cooley Way.”
Nina Cooley Way is located at the intersection of Fawn Drive and Grenadier Lane in East Islip, just off the Heckscher State Parkway and Timber Point Road.
