Faces of Long Island celebrates the uniqueness of everyday Long Islanders. In their own words, they tell us about their life experiences, challenges and triumphs. Newsday launched this social media journey into the human experience to shine a light on the diverse people of this wonderful place we call home.

‘I come from very humble beginnings and because I had teachers who were passionate, I was able to go to college.’

East Islip

“I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and came here when I was 19 to study at Stony Brook University. I studied in the Department of Linguistics, and I was always interested in the science of language, how it sounds, I liked the research. I worked with immigrants at a Bay Shore non-for-profit, and I saw myself in them. I now teach English as a new language at the high school level. I always saw teaching as a very powerful thing to do, I appreciate the power it had to change my life.

“I come from very humble beginnings and because I had teachers who were passionate, I was able to go to college. My father is illiterate and had difficulties in life trying to get jobs and being able to communicate. That was inspiring because I know what it is not to be able to read and write and the limitations that brings. It was important to honor my father by becoming a teacher.

“I started Long Island Latino Teachers Association in 2006, after my experiences and other colleagues’ experiences of seeing students not being given services. I realized it wasn’t just one district, this was a systematic problem. We witnessed what we call discriminatory practices and we tried to address the situations through the system. For example, if students were put in a bilingual program, they were not given academic intervention services. In a single language program, if that child tested low, they’d be eligible for academic intervention services.

In 15 years, we’ve seen a decrease in the dropout rate among Latinos, which is core to our mission, and we’ve seen school districts in the last two years especially diversify their staff.

“There were no bilingual special-ed classes. Or the opposite, they’d classify them as disabled and they didn’t really have a disability. Because of a lack of experts in the field, there was a misidentification of students. Assemblyman Philip Ramos helped us help kids receive appropriate services and encouraged us to organize and give voice to the children who are English language learners.

“If we don’t take care of these practices that are hurting our students, then our students are not graduating, if we don’t advocate for diversity, we won’t have more diverse teachers. In 15 years, we’ve seen a decrease in the dropout rate among Latinos, which is core to our mission, and we’ve seen school districts in the last two years especially diversify their staff.”

Interviewed by Rachel O’Brien – Morano

‘The moment I began dance classes I said, ‘This is what my body is supposed to do.’ Dance fit my body.’

Point Lookout

“I am a performer extraordinaire with 35 years in show business. It started when I was 5 and I became a competitive swimmer. I swam in three junior Olympics.’ My focus switched to gymnastics at the age of 7 when I discovered that I could throw my body through the air! I taught myself how to flip on my front lawn from a book about gymnastics.

“At 15, I happened to be at my little sister’s dance recital. They did ‘Thriller.’ I said, ‘I can do that!’ I made my mother sign me up for dance, and the moment I began I said, ‘This is what my body is supposed to do.’ Dance fit my body. I split my days with classes at Long Island High School for the Performing Arts. They allowed me to be me and to express myself through movement. I realized that was where I belonged. I also entered the talent show at my high school and competed against an unknown singer named Debbie Gibson.

“During her song the mic wasn’t working. She put it down, stepped to the front of the stage, and belted the song. My dance partner and I immediately thought we had lost, but we beat her in the talent show! She said to me, ‘I’ll never forget you.’ When she got her record contract six months later, she hired me as a backup dancer. Before I was 21, I went on three world tours with her, and it changed the trajectory of my life.

In the beginning I was performing to feed my ego. Then it changed. People would say things like: ‘As a gay kid in Minnesota, I hadn’t seen anyone that was like me, and then you showed up on TV.’

“I did shows on Broadway and in Vegas. At 37, I wasn’t sure where I fit with performing; I was going to retire. All of a sudden, Deborah called me again and asked me to do a show. I realized I can still do it.

“I have now been with her for the past 25 years. I’m choreographing her new show in Vegas, and I’ll be dancing in it as well. In the beginning I was performing to feed my ego. Then it changed. People would say things like: ‘As a gay kid in Minnesota, I hadn’t seen anyone that was like me, and then you showed up on TV.’ Watching me be comfortable in my own skin meant a lot to them. This keeps me humble.

“I still tour the world and teach all over the country, but my home is Long Island. I’m thankful my parents let me do my thing. I had that fire in me. I’ve learned that you’re going to fail a million times, but if you keep getting back up, one of those tries is going to work.”

‘We’re going through tough times right now with his medical issues but it’s all worth it, this journey.’

Riverhead

“I have a charming, charismatic, understanding special needs son. He has a rare genetic disorder called Koolen-de Vries syndrome and it went undiagnosed for 19 years. He has developmental delays and learning disabilities. “He’s 28 now and Dr. Gail Schonfeld saved his life. He was getting sick and had liver disease. I tried to get him on a liver transplant list.

“We went to a few institutions; they just wouldn’t allow it. They took points off for him being special needs. I had actually given up; I had hospice and thought he was going to pass away. Our pediatrician wouldn’t sign off on hospice papers, and I was at my wits’ end and hospice had to stop coming. I left my house and I stormed to her office in East Hampton and banged on her door. She said to me, ‘Of all my patients’ parents, you’re giving up? Go get tested yourself.’

I was a match; I had to lose 40 pounds and saved his life. I donated 65 percent of my liver on Jan. 28, 2020. We were the last transplant duo before the unit closed for COVID-19.

“We went to Mt. Sinai Hospital. I was a match; I had to lose 40 pounds and saved his life. I donated 65 percent of my liver on Jan. 28, 2020. We were the last transplant duo before the unit closed for COVID-19. We’re doing okay, he has some issues but we’re a year-and-a-half out. I did fantastic. I had no complications. He had biliary duct issues; it’s a common thing that happens with the transplant. He gets sick with infections. We’re trying to save our kids. No one knows about it, no one understands it.

“I belong to support groups for Koolen-de Vries and I’ve encountered people who I’m sure they have it but there are only a few on Long Island who are diagnosed with it. There are only a few tens of thousands diagnosed in the world, and many are undiagnosed. It was fortunate with his liver that I was a match. We’re going through tough times right now with his medical issues but it’s all worth it, this journey. If something happens to my son, I set up with Mt. Sinai to donate all his organs, sending brain cell tissues for Koolen-de Vries research.”

Interviewed by Rachel O’Brien – Morano

‘I’m happy that I get to show other potential woman scientists and scientists of color that you can do this; that it’s not unattainable.’

Upton

“I was the first African-American woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in the field of radiochemistry. I didn’t set out to be the first, I didn’t know until after I defended my thesis. I wanted to be a medical doctor when I was growing up, a trauma surgeon, since I was around 12.

“Something about being in the ER, even to this day, gets me very excited. Being surprised with a problem and then having to put the puzzle together. ‘What happened to this person and how do we fix it?’ has always been exciting to me.

“When I went to college, I was taking pre-med and I felt like I wasn’t being challenged. It was, memorize this and memorize that. I like to solve problems and I wasn’t solving enough problems. One of my mentors said, ‘Why don’t you try chemistry?’ She sent me on a few internships, and I got to work with a biochemist, who was manipulating RNA for Alzheimer’s research. At the time, my father was going through dementia, so it was near and dear and I thought, ‘This is really cool.’ “I switched my major, and my institution started to introduce undergrads to radiochemistry, so I worked at a nuclear reactor for a summer and really learned it. I was just blown away.

When I started grad school, there were not many places in the country that offered radiochemistry. I really like the radiopharmaceuticals and developing these imaging agents. Brookhaven National Lab is the birthplace of the technetium generator. I was like, ‘I have to get to Brookhaven.’

“Someone at the nuclear reactor told me about University of Las Vegas and introduced me to who would become my thesis advisor there and worked on technetium chemistry – trying to develop novel imaging agents for various cancers. When I started grad school, there were not many places in the country that offered radiochemistry.

“I really like the radiopharmaceuticals and developing these imaging agents. Brookhaven National Lab is the birthplace of the technetium generator. I was like, ‘I have to get to Brookhaven.’

“Once I defended my thesis, I came to BNL as a post-doctoral and we have these huge instruments, high powered accelerators where we can produce radioisotopes for different applications. Now, I’m a staff scientist here and we are developing not only imaging agents but potential therapeutical agents for the treatment of disease. I’m happy that I get to show other potential woman scientists and scientists of color that you can do this; that it’s not unattainable.”

‘Alan Jackson does a song called “Sissy’s Song.” It’s about a woman who gets cancer and dies. I can’t get through it. I’m going to work on that. I’ll get that song down.’

Medford

“My wife Kathy and I were getting ready to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in September 2014. That Labor Day, I got a cold and my wife caught it from me, but she got a cough. She went to the doctor; they did chest x-rays and saw something there.

“Three weeks later, we found out she had about 60 to 70 percent of her lung full of cancer and it was also in her windpipe. They scheduled her as soon as possible at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She had the operation and everything went fine.

“She comes home on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Black Friday, she says, ‘Steve, I’m having difficulty breathing.’ We wound up going back to Sloan’s and they immediately put her on a ventilator and induced a coma. What happened was, she caught an infection. She died shortly after.

I had decided not to go, but my guardian angel told me I had to. So, I go and I meet all these crazy people my age and one of them has their own bar. I don’t drink but I started hanging out at the bar.

“Six months later, I get laid off from my job, so I’m home with a dead wife and no job. Then in late August, a friend of mine calls and says, ‘Steve, I’m having a big party.’ I had decided not to go, but my guardian angel told me I had to. So, I go and I meet all these crazy people my age and one of them has their own bar. I don’t drink but I started hanging out at the bar.

“Tuesday nights they started to have karaoke. I said, ‘There is no way you’re going to get me up there and sing.’ That night on my way home, I heard a country tune, and I thought, I could do that. I practiced the tune and went back the next Tuesday night; I sing it and it comes out great. I said, ‘I kind of like doing this and it takes my mind off things.’

“I started looking for other bars that have karaoke. I’ve been to over 40 bars in the last couple of years doing this. When I dress the part, I become Honky Tonk Steve. I also started talking to a lady named Janet on a Facebook page, “Grief Anonymous.” This was a worldwide site; she lives a mile from me.

“That was almost two years ago, and we’ve been dating ever since. She is also a widow and has a lot of my wife’s traits, especially energy. Kathy’s nickname was the ‘Bud Light Girl,’ but they also called her Sissy. Alan Jackson does a song called “Sissy’s Song.” It’s about a woman who gets cancer and dies. I tried to do the song but I can’t get through it. I’m going to work on that; sooner or later, I’ll get that song down.”

‘I wanted her to feel that she wasn’t alone, so I wrote a story thinking it was just a cute bedtime story.’

Roslyn

“It was her first birthday party when I gave my daughter a piece of cake for the first time. Within minutes she had hives from her eyelids to her toes. The doctor tested her for egg allergies and he said, ‘Egg allergies rarely travel alone.’ It took a few years to really get a handle on everything she was allergic to: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame, canola oil, flaxseed and mustard.

“I wanted her to feel she wasn’t alone, so I wrote a story thinking it was just a cute bedtime story. Statistics tell us that kids with allergies have a thirty percent higher instance of being bullied. There are many cases of food allergy bullying where kids have purposely smeared someone’s allergen on another child. It could be life threatening. You also have a chance of being left out.

“Someone might say, ‘It’s a cooking party, so why invite her? She can’t participate anyway.’ My daughter couldn’t have the cupcake that everyone else was having at school; instead, she had to bring her own. My little story snowballed quickly and I realized it sounded like a book. My daughter was 4 years old when I wrote “Nutley the Nut-Free Squirrel.” It’s now 10 years later, the book is published, and I donate all the proceeds to an organization called FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).

Before writing it, I knew that I had a good work ethic, but when you write a book from the ground up it is so difficult to take ‘no’ for an answer twenty times before someone says yes.

“It’s also a way to educate other families in a whimsical way designed for kids. Her allergies were so much a part of her; they were in every step she took, going to school, parties, gymnastics, dance and camp. Because of fundraising and research in the last ten years, she has been treated with oral immunotherapy (OIT). In six months, she went from being anaphylactic with eggs, to eating a hard-boiled egg.

“The book became popular and sometimes people would joke around and call her Nutley. I think it gave her confidence. I have visited hundreds of schools reading “Nutley.” It always makes the allergic children feel like rock stars for the day. Before writing it, I knew that I had a good work ethic, but when you write a book from the ground up it is so difficult to take ‘no’ for an answer twenty times before someone says yes. It taught me about how persistent I am. Now I have written three more!”

‘I encourage others to think about their talent. It doesn’t need to change the world, but it can make a difference.’

East Rockaway

“Growing up gay in the ’90s wasn’t always the most welcoming situation. It helped galvanize me to be a voice and make a difference in many different causes. I work in communications, and I’ve been lucky enough to support organizations fighting a range of issues like eating disorders, heart disease, infertility, domestic violence and ALS, to name a few. I’ve learned who I am through the situations that I’ve faced and what I’ve been able to contribute to, and I think making a difference for your community can not only inspire you, but also allow you to think about what more you can do.

“I’m the director of communications at Target ALS, but I also have a side of me that is for fun, where I am the Broadway correspondent for media outlets like NBC New York. When Broadway’s Rebecca Luker passed away of ALS, it was an opportunity for me to take both worlds and put them together for a great cause to produce a fund-raising show. It was an honor to put together “Becca.”

It’s interesting that my job has somehow influenced my time at church. It’s about the power of words and I’ve been able to see that power in myself as a talent that I am able to share with others.

“Charitable causes and Broadway may seem like they’re totally disconnected, but I believe that everybody has a talent that can make an impact. For me, that’s communications and revealing stories that matter. With Broadway, that can be helping people to pick a show that they can feel good about putting their money towards. In charitable causes, that can be revealing stories that will help influence people into making a donation.

“It’s all about helping to inspire positive actions. I’m a Lay Eucharistic Minister at my church and it’s the same situation. As part of my job as a communications professional, I do the readings at church and help them connect with people and inspire people to think differently about the passages they’re hearing. It has been incredibly rewarding for me and it’s interesting that my job has somehow influenced my time at church. It’s about the power of words and I’ve been able to see that power in myself as a talent that I am able to share with others.

“I encourage others to think about their talent. It doesn’t need to change the world, but it can make a difference. Finding that in yourself and sharing it with other people is such a rewarding experience and it’s part of what life is about.”

‘While being born, I almost died. It’s why I became a physician.’

Stony Brook

“My mother had to get an emergency C-section after realizing I wasn’t moving in the womb. It turned out my umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck. I only had about a half-hour to survive, so the C-section was done immediately, less than 10 minutes after my mom went through the ER doors.

“While growing up my grandmother said the doctors who saved me had a mission, which then became my mission in life; that I should become a doctor, to serve and cure others. That inspired me.

“I’m originally from Peru, where there’s a great tropical medicine institute. I studied infectious diseases, especially because of cholera, which in Peru impacts a lot of people. When something like that becomes a problem, it’s a challenge to stop or to control it.

“I made my way to Stony Brook University Hospital for its strong research program, which meant opportunities where I could make a difference. Over the past five years, I’ve focused on Lyme Disease, a common vector-borne illness.

I remember one patient who said he was suffering for a year, and we started his treatment all over again with testing, which came back positive for Lyme

“I had never seen Lyme before coming to Stony Brook. There are ticks in Peru, but to learn about tick-borne diseases here on Long Island, I had to start from scratch. One thing I found were patients not thinking they had a tickborne infection, even with the telltale rashes on their skin. One even told me he saw three doctors, but none gave him a Lyme disease test, although he had symptoms and the rashes.

“These kinds of things really hit me because these people are suffering and going several places but not getting answers. I remember one patient who said he was suffering for a year, and we started his treatment all over again with testing, which came back positive for Lyme. After using antibiotics for a while, he completely resolved his symptoms. That was one of those cases that makes you feel like you are helping people as you should be.

“I think the future should be to develop a vaccine for tick bites, as we’ll never be able to eliminate ticks, so right now it’s about finding answers and then finding a vaccine. That would be meaningful and rewarding, which is exactly like what my grandmom wanted. I can’t see myself doing any other job.”

The person profiled here has been a guest on Newsday Live.

Interviewed by Ian J. Stark

‘Diversity awareness and outreach are always a great challenge for immigrant communities, irrespective of their ethnic and religious background.’

Westbury

“I moved to Long Island 30 years ago and got actively involved in the Sikh Gurudwara in Plainview. Diversity awareness and outreach are always a great challenge for immigrant communities, irrespective of their ethnic and religious background. I started the American Diversity Forum and played a key role in the Indian American Forum, the International Punjabi Society and others to promote diversity. It’s about people meeting each other, talking, joining in celebrating diversity. I am fortunate to be able to partner with likeminded business, community and political leaders to create awareness.

“After 9/11, we felt the need to be more proactive and structured in outreach and awareness initiatives. I met face-to-face with members of local government and law enforcement to lay the groundwork to help them understand more about us. We were fortunate that they were quick to respond, to stop any untoward or hateful incidents. In 2002, Congressman Tom Suozzi (then Nassau County Executive) appointed me in his administration, giving me more opportunities and platforms, accomplishing greater success in diversity outreach initiatives. I was involved in events like Sikh Day and India Day parades. We did these celebrations locally, in Albany and the White House where I was invited by President Bush and President Obama. I worked with the Nassau and City Police Departments so that Sikhs could be employed in law enforcement and the armed forces with a turban and beard. Communities and officials all over America welcomed those initiatives.

When something bad happens, everybody is affected. In the Sikh religion we have a saying that all human race is one. Anything against any one of us is against humanity.

“To be proactive in diversity outreach you have to get involved with all communities. My simple approach and goal is to show up and be known, to first tell them who we are. I don’t take it for granted that they’ll know about us and expect them to behave accordingly. I ask them where they are from or what they do and those questions lead to more openness so then everybody can understand that we are trying to educate each other and learn from each other. In learning, one always grows and benefits. When something bad happens, everybody is affected. In the Sikh religion we have a saying that all human race is one. Anything against any one of us is against humanity.”

Interviewed by Liza Burby

‘You can never take a day for granted and you have to be the best person you possibly can be.’

Massapequa

“For most people around here, on Long Island and Massapequa in general, we spend our summers at the beach. It’s a way for us to be there all day, every day. I started lifeguarding when I was 16 at Bethpage Pool. The pool is a lot calmer in the sense that you’re basically just watching flat water for a while, but there are a lot more things going on with families outside of the pool.

“You’re watching to make sure that kids are staying with their parents, they aren’t running and getting hurt, because we do First Aid, too. At the ocean, you’re obviously watching a lot more and with the waves and everything. Some days there are huge waves with rip currents and people don’t even realize how scary the water gets. There is a lot more to carry. You have a couple of other lifeguards working with you too when you’re on the stand and watching the water in case you have to make a rescue.

“There is a lot more ground to cover at the beach. You’re never by yourself and it’s a whole team thing. I think it is one of the best summer jobs you can have. My dad got into it because he always grew up living to surf and being at the beach in general. He’s a teacher also, so once he started teaching, he figured it was something good to do during the summer.

I think there’s a fear instilled in knowing that someone’s life is in your hands in that sense. That is literally in the name of the position—you are guarding somebody’s life.

“There are a lot of things that happen at the beach and unfortunately, we’ve had some people that work there who passed away. Everybody that works there, we’re kind of like a close-knit family, so we’re there for each other. In general, there’s a lot of scary situations.

“I feel like it just comes with the job. I think we’re very good in the sense that we know how to handle things and do a good job. You can never take a day for granted and you have to be the best person you possibly can be. I think being a lifeguard helps you develop that responsibility within yourself and it carries over to other things you do.

“I think there’s a fear instilled in knowing that someone’s life is in your hands in that sense. Ultimately, your job is to make sure that everybody is safe and that your community is in a safe environment. That is literally in the name of the position—you are guarding somebody’s life.”

Interviewed by Dave Gil de Rubio