The beloved Community Board 12 district manager who passed away earlier this year was honored by the community she advocated for over 20 years.
This past Saturday, September 12, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Councilman Andy King, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Congressman Eliot Engel, Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson, New York City Department of Transportation Borough Commissioner Constance Moran, Community Board 12 members as well as the late Rosa’s friends and family members gathered at the corner of East 229th Street and White Plains Road to co-name this intersection ‘Carmen Rosa Way’ to honor the district manager who passed away on March 20, 2015.
Councilman King officiated the prestigious ceremony and presented a City Council Proclamation to Rosa’s family in recognition of her service.
“Carmen Rosa was a proud Bronxite and a tremendous advocate for the people of her community and the entire Bronx,” said Borough President Diaz, Jr.
“Though we are sad at her passing, we can hold up her example as one that should be followed by future generations of borough leaders. This street renaming will keep her memory in our hearts and minds for years to come,” he added.
Rosa, a first generation New Yorker and longtime Bronxite who was originally from 161st Street before moving into Co-op City, provided more than 20 years of excellent service and contributions to CB 12.
After serving seven years as the board’s Assistant District Manager, Rosa was named district manager in 1995 and since then she had applied an unparalleled level of expertise, dedication and leadership skills to improve the quality of life for CB 12 and Bronx residents alike.
During her tenure as district manager, Rosa played an instrumental role in getting the Federal and State Department of Environmental Protection to clean up the toxic site known as Hexagon Labs and ensuring the contaminates contained there would no longer endanger residents.
Rosa had two children, Linda and Alfredo Angueira and was an adjunct professor at Monroe College teaching writing and business classes for over 30 years.
Rosa retired from her position with CB 12 earlier this year, about a month before passing away from cancer at age 62.
Ursula Greene, CB 12 community associate, worked with Rosa for over 20 years and shared her many memories of her late colleague’s hardwork and dedication:. “There was no such thing as ‘nine to five’ for Carmen,” said Greene. “She would come in here from eight in the morning and stay until 11 at night working to help others. We had times when the problem wasn’t in this district, but whenever someone came into this office to ask for help, Carmen would do everything possible to help them.”
She added that Rosa was responsible for having the Bronx District Attorney establish a crime victims unit on the 3rd floor of CB 12’s office, and getting a SNAP program to meet two days a week at their office.
