Celebrating the life and legacy of Sylvia Slava Vero, community leader, educator, and Holocaust survivor

Assembly Resolution No. 1605

BY: M. of A. Stern

        CELEBRATING  the life and legacy of Sylvia "Slava"
        Vero,  community  leader,  educator,  and  Holocaust
        survivor

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in  their  communities  and  great
state of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Sylvia  "Slava"  Vero  of  Huntington,  New  York, died on
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the age of 97; and

  WHEREAS, Slava Vero was  born  on  December  19,  1928,  in  Galati,
Romania  to a Jewish family; after Nazi Germany invaded Romania, she and
her family were forced into a ghetto, where  they  lived  under  squalid
conditions  for more than four years; her parents died shortly after the
war; and

  WHEREAS, While living under communist rule in  Romania,  Slava  Vero
pursued  her  education  despite  the  obstacles placed in her path; she
immigrated to the United States and had a successful career as a medical
biologist; and

  WHEREAS, Slava  Vero  married,  had  a  family,  and  served  as  an
inspiration for all who had the good fortune to know her, work with her,
and  learn  from  her tenacity, kindness, and desire to help others; her
advice was to always be aware of your history and to never give up; and

  WHEREAS, After retiring from her medical biologist  position,  Slava
Vero  began  the  "Second  Act"  of her life, joining the Family Service
League and founding SeniorNet-an educational program which  has  trained
thousands  of  seniors  to learn computer skills, enabling them to work,
stay in touch with family, and capably navigate  today's  online  world;
and

  WHEREAS, During her tenure at SeniorNet, Slava Vero was instrumental
in  raising funds to provide summer camp experiences for underserved and
at-risk children; she worked as a member of the  Fundraising  Committee,
and  was  the  recipient of many awards, including Senior Citizen of the
Year, the Chairman's Award for Excellence, and was recognized by Newsday
as an "Every-Day Hero"; and

  WHEREAS, Slava Vero's commitment to family,  community,  unshakeable
determination and persistence, and her natural ability to light up every
room  she  entered deserve just recognition by this Legislative Body and
the citizens of the great State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Slava Vero leaves behind a legacy which  will  long  endure
the  passage  of  time and will remain as a comforting memory to all she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
celebrate  the life and legacy of Sylvia "Slava" Vero, community leader,

educator, beloved  wife,  mother,  grandmother,  friend,  and  Holocaust
survivor; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Sylvia "Slava" Vero.