Tillie Tarantino, longtime advocate for senior citizens in Williamsburg, sadly, passed away on Oct. 30. Diana Reyna, former Council Member, at right, looks on.
The Conselyea Street Block Association kindly informs the community about the death of Tillie Tarantino, longtime Director of the Swinging Sixties Senior Center:
Tillie passed away on Wednesday at the age of 81.
For more than 40 years, Tillie served the community, and the seniors of Williamsburg/Greenpoint, with commitment and determination. Tillie was a big part of the movement to build the facility at 211 Ainslie Street. In addition to being the longtime home of the Swinging Sixties Senior and Small World Daycare Centers, the building has served as a community-wide meeting place.
Tillie was active in community affairs throughout her life. She was a longtime member of Community Board 1 and the Board of Metropolitan Senior Housing. She was also a founder of the Greenpoint Renaissance Enterprise Corporation (GREC), the community coalition overseeing the redevelopment of the Greenpoint Hospital.
Phil Caponegro, the newly-elected President of the Conselyea Street Block Association, which runs the Swinging Sixties Center, said, “We were all saddened by the passing of Tillie Tanrantino. She gave the senior center her all. She had a deep personal commitment to ensure that local seniors had a lively place to socialize, have fun, develop as people, and eat a hot meal.”
Frank Guidice, the Association’s longtime President, said, “I knew Tillie for a long time. She was a great friend, and she was a great director who was respected by anyone. She will be deeply missed.”
The wake is on Friday, from 2 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm, at Anastasio & Son Funeral Home, at 533 Lorimer Street.
Funeral mass is on Saturday, November 2nd, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (275 N. 8th Street).
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